Talks between health service management and medical organisations on a new contract for hospital consultants were adjourned yesterday until tomorrow.
Management and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and the Irish Medical Organisation, representing doctors yesterday spent several hours discussing proposals for practice plans and weekend work for consultants.
It is understood the former independent chairman of the talks process, senior counsel Mark Connaughton, may be asked to become involved again in a bid to facilitate progress on a number of outstanding issues.
The parties remain far apart on issues like pay, private practice and work hours in some areas.
Minister for Health Mary Harney has said she wants agreement on a new contract for consultants concluded by Christmas.
The talks on a new contract, which is seen by the Government as one of the key elements of its overall healthcare reform programme, have been under way for about three years.
Meanwhile, a new national forum to consider non-pay areas of the health sector met yesterday. The forum includes trade unions and representative bodies for employees in the health service as well as the HSE and Government departments.
Speaking before the meeting, HSE chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm said he hoped there would be a commitment by all sides to work together.