Howlin says consultants can't pick and choose with Croke Park

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is warning hospital consultants that they cannot pick and choose the parts of the Croke Park deal that suit them.

Brendan Howlin says the government expects consultants to attend talks at the Labour Court on Thursday on new contracts, despite claims by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association that they won't attend.

The IHCA says consultants have individual contracts and therefore the union can't negotiate on their behalf but the HSE has warned any consultants that don't turn up that they could face pay cuts.

Minister Howlin says unions can't unpick the Croke Park deal without agreement from all sides.

"I'm of the view that you can't be part of a collective agreement for the things that protect you but exclude it from a collective agreement for the things that challenge you.

"We expect all unions representing some of the lowest paid in the public service to fully embrace Croke Park and some of the highest paid in the public service will also have to engage."