Consultants apply to review body for 20%pay rise

Hospital consultants are to seek salary increases of about 20 per cent as part of a new Government-established pay review for top-level public servants.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which has lodged the pay claim, believes it should be separate from the planned re-negotiation of the consultants' contract with the State.

It is widely expected that the review of the contract, which is currently stalled, could lead to consultants receiving substantial pay increases in return for significant changes in work practices including the loss of private practice rights.

In its submission to the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Service, which examines top-level pay including that of ministers and senior civil servants, the IMO pointed to increases in the number of patients treated in hospitals in recent years as evidence of improved productivity by consultants.

The IMO said other groups such as top officials in Government departments had access to bonus schemes under which they can receive up to 20 per cent in addition to their salary.

It also argued that the two most recent reviews of consultants' pay by the review body recommended increases that were considered to be only "interim awards".

An IMO spokesman said it had sought a "double-digit" increase as part of its submission to the review body. The IMO declined to set out the exact figure for its pay claim. However, The Irish Times understands that it is about 20 per cent.

The IMO is to make a full presentation on its case to the review body in November.

The other main organisation representing medical consultants, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, has said that until now it has held off on making a submission to the review body pending the outcome of negotiations with the Government on a revised contract. However, it has said that if it considered that these talks were going nowhere, it would lodge a claim for a pay increase.

Talks between the Health Service Executive, Department of Health and hospital consultants on a new contract have effectively been stalled since last January.

Attempts in June to bridge the gap between the two sides to allow negotiations resume over the summer failed. There is currently no date set for talks on the new contract to re-commence.

The 2,000-plus consultants in State-funded hospitals are the largest group in the public sector covered by the review body.

The review body on higher remuneration in the public service is currently examining pay scales of ministers, senior civil servants, judges and top local authority and health sector managers. It is due to make a recommendation on pay rises next year.

Hospital consultants last year received pay increases of 7.5 per cent as part of an across-the-board recommendation made by the review body for the higher levels of the public service.

Hospital consultants are currently paid about €160,000 per year from the State. However, many can earn considerably more in addition to this from private practice.

The Irish Times revealed last month that one hospital consultant had received nearly €250,000 last year in public earnings.