More talks take place on new consultants' contract

More talks are taking place today in an effort to agree a new contract for hospital consultants.

The discussions are expected to focus on pay and the right to private practice for doctors who work in the public hospital system.

Representatives of the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association will be in attendance along with officials from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive.

Independent chairman Mark Connaughton, who has been overseeing talks on the proposed new contracts, will not be involved in this phase of the process.