Consultants seek facilitator in insurance dispute

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association has called for the appointment of a facilitator to mediate in talks on the ongoing issue of insurance cover.

The Department of Education and the British Medical Defence Union have been in negotiations for 12 weeks over who is responsible for covering compensation claims against consultants.

The IHCA has expressed growing frustration with the lack of progress in the talks and has called for an independent facilitator to be appointed to oversee the discussions.

It said it planned to convene an extraordinary general meeting of its members in September with a view to reinstating industrial action if the issue is not resolved by then.