Talks to resume between HSE and hospital consultants

Negotiations between hospital consultants and the HSE over new work contracts are resuming today.

The Government is setting a deadline of the end of March for the completion of the talks, something consultants say is unrealistic.

It has now been more than two years since the HSE and hospital consultants began discussions over new work contracts for the country's two thousand one hundred consultants.

The contract is one of the vital elements in the Government's reform of the health service, however relations between the two parties are bad: just last month the Irish Hospital Consultants Association passed a motion of no-confidence in the HSE.

Recently the Government warned that it might pass legislation to force a contract upon consultants if these talks are unsuccessful.

It wants the talks to be finished before the end of March, however the IHCA says this deadline is unrealistic.