Consultants have welcomed a commitment by the Minister for Health to resolve a dispute over pay inequality.
According to the Irish Medical Organisation, consultants recruited after 2012 are paid 30% less than consultants recruited before that date.
The organisation claims this has led to a recruitment crisis in the health sector.
Simon Harris told the IMO AGM in Killarney, Co Kerry yesterday that a process is clearly needed to avoid any further risk of industrial action.
"I will work with you to engage to find a process to end the issue of new entrant consultant pay" Minister Harris #imoagm19
— Irish Medical Organisation (@IMO_IRL) April 27, 2019
The President of the IMO, Dr Padraig McGarry, has welcomed the comments.
However, he warned that any engagement can't just be 'talks about talks'.
He said: "This has to happen quickly - it has to be a prioritity.
"It has having an adverse effect on patient care due to the inability to recruit consultants from across the country into the health service.
"We need that to be expedited as soon as possible - we can't let this thing go on the long finger."
He added: "Our expectation is that the process will commence within weeks and we expect the matter to be resolved and the pay differential cancelled within months. Anything less will be insufficient.”
Minister Harris, meanwhile, hailed recent progress - including the new contract for GPs, which will see FEMPI cuts reversed.
Following lengthy negotiations with the Department of Health, GPs have agreed to productivity steps to get the cuts reversed.
The Health Minister indicated it's time to "move on to next challenges and work to resolve them".
Thank you to @IMO_IRL for inviting me to your conference. Together we have made progress on some big issues like a new agreement for GPs and important public health issues like vaccinations & Public Health Alcohol Act. Now let’s move on to next challenges & work to resolve them pic.twitter.com/zeoNdQ5n0L
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) April 27, 2019
