Health experts pressed to make savings

Consultants are under even greater pressure to agree to cost-saving work practices, with the Government declaring consultants are some of the best paid people in the country and need to embrace changes.

Figures obtained by the Irish Examiner also reveal the perks enjoyed by the consultants, with 500 this year set to earn €200,000 or more each in overall pay from public practices alone.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin said he was disappointed that talks between health chiefs and consultants had broken down and that the Government would now have to go to the Labour Court.