Harney seeks end to boycott of mental health tribunals
22/12/2005 - 13:56:10The Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has called on psychiatrists to end their boycott of the Government's proposed new mental health tribunals.
The bodies are being established to review decisions on the involuntary admission of patients to mental health units.
However, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and the Irish Medical Organisation have instructed their members to boycott the tribunals as part of a row over the allocation of resources.
Ms Harney is now calling on them to end the boycott, saying she had secured an extra €25m for mental health services in 2006.
The Government is already withholding a 1.5% pay increase due under the Sustaining Progress agreement because of the stance of the two organisations.
