Racing: The Racecourse Medical Officers Association (RMOA) last night appeared to give a positive response to the proposal of a "facilitator" in their dispute with racetracks which threatens to halt racing here from January 1st.
A meeting of the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) yesterday offered to appoint the ex-SIPTU president and current member of the board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), Eddie Browne, as a mediator.
"As an ex-president of SIPTU, Eddie has a long record of negotiations, and, as we are very concerned at the threat to racing, we want to appoint Eddie as a facilitator in our talks with the doctors," said the AIR chief executive, Paddy Walsh. "I understand he has agreed to do it.
"We are writing to the doctors now with the idea and, given the time-scale, we would hope for a quick response. At the meeting today it was felt we are still too far apart from the doctors ourselves, so we hope this move can make a difference."
At yesterday's AIR meeting it was confirmed that 65 of the 84 active medical officers had sent in their resignations, and last night the RMOA chairman, Dr David Molony, said more can be forwarded if required.
However, he added: "I've just heard this proposal so I can't really comment, but we would certainly keep the positive attitude we have had throughout this time to any suggestion that might solve the problem."
The RMOA has declared its intention to withdraw their services from the start of January unless long-standing issues with contracts, work procedures and pay are dealt with by the AIR.
But racing's ruling body was upbeat yesterday about the dispute being resolved.
The HRI chief executive, Brian Kavanagh, said many of the issues had already been resolved and that the only outstanding issue is pay.
"I believe all the issues can be solved and solved very easily," he said. "I believe if everyone sits down and talks sense this can be resolved.
"A number of issues have already been addressed under the meetings that were held by all those concerned with this issue. The outstanding issue now as far as I am concerned is the negotiations over the rates of pay. And I believe that it can be resolved."
