‘Interference by Harney to blame for contract row’

HOSPITAL consultants have blamed political interference by Health Minister Mary Harney for destabilising talks on new contracts.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said the continued interference by the minister over the past 16 months, during which she threatened to guillotine the negotiations, set unrealistic completion deadlines. Pressing ahead with the recruitment of up to 50 new consultants had also undermined the entire process, it said.

The association said yesterday it would be urging its members not to assist in the recruitment of the new consultants.