Consultants association president 'hopes Varadkar can deliver'

The president of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association is welcoming Leo Varadkar as the new Minister for Health.

Doctor Gerard Crotty said he hoped the Minister could deliver on promises to review the health service budgets.

The IHCA is holding its annual conference in Cork today. Funding a high-quality and safe healthcare service will be one of the main topics, as will developing acute hospital services.

Of Budget 2015, Dr Crotty said: "We recognise the new leadership in the Department of Health. Minister Varadkar has acknowledged the health service budgets have not been realistic and that the 30% cut in salaries of new entry consultants was a mistake so we hope he can deliver on both of these (issues)."