Another Minister no-show alienates consultants

In the last issue of the Medical Independent, we published our preview coverage of the IHCA Annual Conference. In the agenda that ran alongside the coverage, there was a notable absentee: The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

It was known in advance that the Minister would not be attending that event on Saturday 17 October in Mount Juliet Estate, Kilkenny. But the IHCA chose the day of the meeting to launch a stinging attack on not only the Minister’s non-attendance, but also her lack of engagement with the Association over the past year-and-a-half.

In a statement released as the meeting commenced, the IHCA “expressed its deep concern over a damaging ‘closed down’ approach taken by the Minister for Health, which has prevented any engagement” with the Association since early 2025.

The Association said this was in sharp contrast to the Government’s adoption of what it termed an ‘open-door’ policy towards other unions and representative associations in relation to nationwide strike action over the public sector pay agreement.

IHCA President Prof Gabrielle Colleran commented: “If this week’s industrial action has taught us anything, it is that engagement is key to resolving differences, building trust, and finding sustainable solutions to our most intractable problems.

“What does it say about the relationship between the leadership of our health service and the medical profession when the organisation representing almost 5,000 hospital consultants cannot secure a discussion with the Minister for Health?”

Prof Colleran also spoke about the issue in her address to attendees.

She said Minister Carroll MacNeill had been invited to address the IHCA Annual Conference in 2025, in addition to other events. The Association had also sought meetings with the Minister to discuss various issues of concern.

“These invitations have either been declined or gone unanswered. And once again, today, the Minister is not here.”

Speaking to this newspaper, the IHCA CEO Mr Jim Daly said the Association has good relationships with senior officials at the Department of Health and the HSE. This includes the Secretary General of the Department Mr Derek Tierney and the HSE CEO Ms Anne O’Connor.

However, in its media statement, the Association pointed out that Ms O’Connor had been scheduled to speak at the Annual Conference, but had to cancel. It also noted HSE Deputy CEO Mr Damien McCallion and former Department Secretary General Mr Robert Watt had also accepted invitations to attend IHCA events this year, only to withdraw their attendance.

A spokesperson for the Department said the Minister could not go to the meeting due to existing diary commitments. She had attended the Irish Cardiac Society Annual Scientific Meeting on Friday 16 October.

The spokesperson added that the Department’s Secretary General Mr Tierney met the IHCA in September to discuss the implementation of the public-only consultant contract (POCC), and the other issues.

Scheduling conflicts do occur. But the Minister has made no secret of how central she sees the POCC in the reform of the health service. Alienating consultants through a lack of engagement might not be the best approach to take in extracting the full benefit of the contract.