Bertie Ahern Govt will consult locals on Hanly
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1.00 News: David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, reports on controversy over the Hanly recommendations
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News At One: Bertie Ahern talks to Political Correspondent David McCullagh about the controversy over Minister Smith's comments on the Hanly report
After protests over the proposed down-grading of some hospitals the Taoiseach has indicated that there will be consultations with local communities before the controversial Hanly proposals are agreed.
Mr Ahern also said that it would be ten years before the proposals were fully implemented.
Earlier, the Minister for Health Micheál Martin challenged the opponents of the Hanly Report to come up with an alternative.
He said many hospital consultants supported the plan and that the Government has no alternative in the light of the legal requirement to reduce the working hours of junior doctors to 48 by 2009.
