Hospital consultants to re-enter talks on insurance cover

Hospital consultants have unanimously backed proposals to re-enter talks with the Department of Health over State cover for insurance claims.

The decision was taken their annual general meeting in Galway today after a two-year stalemate.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, who is due in Galway tonight, has offered to increase the number of specialists who are eligible for cover.

Finbarr Fitzpatrick, of the Hospital Consultants Association, said this evening that he hopes talks can get underway by the end of the month.