Minister dismisses insurance concerns

The Minister for Health has dismissed the concerns of hospital consultants over their new insurance scheme launched today.

The Enterprise Liabilities scheme gives a state guarantee to cover the expenses of consultants in the event of malpractice compensation claims.

But the Irish Hospital Consultants Association says it won't cover claims from before the scheme was launched.

Minister Micheál Martin says that is the responsibility of the insurance companies, which covered doctors until now.