Doctors call for emergency meeting of trade union

Doctors involved in a campaign to “save” their trade union, the Irish Medical Organisation, following the controversy over the pension payment to its former chief executive, have requested an extraordinary general meeting.

South Dublin GP Dr Cathal Ó Suilliobháin yesterday handed in the 120 signatures required under the IMO’s rules for the calling of such a meeting.

The IMO council will consider the issue next Saturday.

Ó Suilliobháin said he was seeking the extraordinary general meeting be held within three weeks.

The “Save our IMO” campaign was established following revelations before Christmas that the organisation’s former chief executive George McNeice was leaving with a €9.7 million benefits package.

It subsequently emerged that Mr McNeice’s contract had left the IMO with a potential liability of up to €25 million.

The €9.7 million package was agreed after talks between Mr McNeice and the organisation. Doctors involved in the campaign are seeking the meeting to consider a number of motions.

These include that an interim chief executive who has no previous connection with the IMO be appointed immediately and that all members of the organisation’s remuneration committee resign immediately pending an external independent investigation of the financial and management activities in the trade union over the last 12 years.

The campaign has also proposed a motion that all minutes of the council, management committee and any subcommittees (including the remuneration committee) of the IMO for the last 12 years be made available to members.

The campaign has also proposed a motion that a subcommittee of seven members, elected by members at the extraordinary general meeting, be appointed by the IMO council to direct and oversee an external independent investigation of the financial and management activities in the IMO over the last 12 years.