The independent chairman mediating in the row over contracts for hospital consultants has told the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, that there is little more he can contribute.
In a letter to the parties, Mark Connaughton SC said he was taken aback at the abrupt manner in which the talks concluded yesterday afternoon and that he was disappointed that there was no real engagement.
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association withdrew from the talks following confirmation by the Health Service Executive that it will advertise on Thursday for 50 new consultants under the terms of disputed contract.
Hospital consultants have said they see little prospect of resumed talks in the near future with the Government on new contracts.
The IHCA insisted today that the dispute was not about money, and has predicted that there will be few applicants for the jobs the Government intends to advertise on its terms.
It has described the salary and contract on offer as 'Mickey Mouse'. Ms Harney rejected this claim. The Minister said she found the suggestion 'incredible' and she said the total pay package on offer to consultants was more than the Taoiseach earned.
The association is to jointly host a teleconference tonight with the Irish Medical Organisation to advise younger doctors who are considering applying for the new jobs about the controversy.
Both organisations have also written to medical unions around the world asking that doctors be made aware of consultants' concerns in Ireland.
