The Minister for Health has urged doctors to support him in implementing the controversial Hanly Report on hospital reform and to participate in the relevant implementation structures "as a matter of urgency".
Speaking at the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) annual conference in Killarney today, Mr Martin said the report made specific recommendations for reorganising hospitals in the east coast and and the mid west, and set out principles for the future organisation of hospital services in the State.
The report also proposed measures to reduce junior doctors' hours and improve medical education and training, Mr Martin said.
"There are no plans to alter the services provided by other hospitals. Instead, the current and future role of hospitals outside the mid-west and east coast will be examined as part of the preparation of a national hospital plan."
Mr Martin said Hanly had concluded that hospital services must be organised to maximise the strengths of both large and smaller hospitals.
"The Hanly Report addresses the need to improve patient care and is the best means of ensuring that safe, high quality acute hospital care is provided to our citizens in all parts of the country.
"To date, neither the local implementation groups for the pilot regions nor the Acute Hospitals Review Group has met as a result of continuing industrial action. I must ask that everyone commence participation in these groups immediately to progress the body of work they must tackle as a matter of urgency."
Mr Martin said he had noted the "widely divergent views" expressed by members of the medical profession and by members of the IMO on the Hanly recommendations.
"As you know all relevant stakeholders were represented on the Taskforce. Agreement was reached on the recommendations. It is therefore time for the medical community as a whole to come together to further reflect and to develop on the consensus that has already been reached," he said.