The country's two main medical organisations have been invited by Minister for Health James Reilly to begin discussions on holding talks on new contracts for GPs and consultants.
In a letter to the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association, Mr Reilly has asked the organisations to engage in discussions, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to introduce new contracts and Universal Health Insurance.
However, no proposals for changes to contracts were set out in the letter.
The minister is due to meet with the IHCA next Wednesday to discuss the issue and other matters.
