Consultants' pay levels, and any more cuts, will cause 'catastrophic' quality drop: IMO's Duffy

One of the country's top consultants has said any further cuts in pay will have a devastating impact on the health system.

It comes as negotiations on a new Croke Park agreement enter their final stages today.

Top of the agenda is the proposal put forward last night by the Labour Relations Commission for public servants to increase their working week from 35 hours to 37 hours.

Those currently working more than 35 hours are being asked to work 39 hours.

The Government has also repeated its call for a freeze in incremental pay increases for three years for public service staff.

However, chairman of the IMO's consultant committee Dr Trevor Duffy said any further cuts to doctors will affect patient care.

"I have consultant salaralies for new entrants that are frankly non-competitive throughout the wider European environment, and this is seen clearly in the rate of applications for new consultant posts," he said.

"This can only meana drop in quality of standards over the comig years."