Hospital Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-09
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Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (FG), Dún Laoghaire

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It is my view and his view that care in our public hospitals must be based on clinical need, not ability to pay. He will also be aware of - and shares - our commitment to ensuring full compliance with the terms of the public only consultant contract, POCC. The position regarding consultants on the POCC is unequivocal: they are not permitted to engage in private practice within public hospitals. There can be no local discretion, exemptions or deviation from the terms of the contract without express written permission from both me and the HSE, which is imagined in certain circumstances of great emergency to give us that flexibility. Where issues have arisen, such as in the Rotunda Hospital, I have been very clear that immediate action must be taken to ensure full compliance.
There has been clear instruction from my Department and the HSE since early 2025, setting out the requirement for compliance. This includes HSE CEO circulars of 14 February, 21 July and 25 September 2025, which required implementation of the POCC rostering provisions, extended consultant-led services and the completion of consultant work schedules. I also established regular workshops with regional and hospital senior management teams to monitor implementation of the contract and rollout of extended working. I met with each region in September 2025 and again in early 2026, as well as online in April 2026. While progress has been made, it has not moved quick enough. However, that is on the implementation of the contract. The HSE CEO wrote again to all regional executive officers on 15 June 2026, making clear that regions must ensure compliance and address any additional issues.
This was then followed by letters from the HSE chief clinical officer, Dr. Colm Henry, on 24 and 30 June, to all regional executive officers and regional clinical directors, stating that POCC consultants could not carry out private work in public facilities, and we have asked for formal assurance on its implementation. Crucially, we have also asked for formal assurances on the implementation of the type B contracts to ensure that does not exceed 20% of workload, as per their contract, and that extended-hours rostering is being fully implemented. Responses are due by 10 July, with a further rostering return due by 31 July. I have more to say but I have run out of time.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-09