Sir, – I read with interest the report that the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has recently entered "talks about talks" with the Government over the proposed contract to introduce free GP care for children under six ("More talks on free GP care to take place," Home News, May 10th).
It is truly incredible that any organisation representing doctors would even consider discussing a document that contains a “gagging clause” preventing its own members from criticising the HSE. I find it appalling to think that my constitutional right to free expression could somehow be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations between a union and the State.
Furthermore, it is my view that the IMO currently has little credibility with many members of the medical profession. This is as a result of the astonishing pension arrangements afforded to a former chief executive of that organisation and the ongoing failure to hold a promised independent inquiry into these matters.
Regrettably, in recent years the IMO also failed to support reforms that gave young, fully qualified GPs the same entitlement to treat medical card holders as their established peers.
Finally, it should be pointed out that an alternative representative organisation, the National Association of General Practitioners , has been deliberately excluded from any talks process, despite having over 1,000 GP members and no history of multimillion euro pension arrangements for its staff. Neither the Government nor the IMO appear concerned by this. I wonder why? – Yours, etc,
Dr RUAIRI HANLEY,
Bush Road,
Gibbstown,
Navan, Co Meath.