Comments on: Doctor’s greed defended by Fine Gael http://www.publicinquiry.eu/2008/10/20/doctors-greed-defended-by-fine-gael/ Examining corruption in Ireland Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:13:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Anthony http://www.publicinquiry.eu/2008/10/20/doctors-greed-defended-by-fine-gael/comment-page-1/#comment-189565 Anthony Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:08:44 +0000 http://www.publicinquiry.eu/?p=963#comment-189565 Don't agree Ambassador, The Government had to agree with the deal because of the stupidity of McCreevy in publicly announcing the scheme before negotiations began. This put the doctors in a very strong position in which they had a clear choice. Accept a reasonable deal or use their strong position to rip off the State – We now know the choice they made. There's no getting around this really. Don’t agree Ambassador,

The Government had to agree with the deal because of the stupidity of McCreevy in publicly announcing the scheme before negotiations began.

This put the doctors in a very strong position in which they had a clear choice. Accept a reasonable deal or use their strong position to rip off the State – We now know the choice they made. There’s no getting around this really.

]]> By: The Bad Ambassador http://www.publicinquiry.eu/2008/10/20/doctors-greed-defended-by-fine-gael/comment-page-1/#comment-189484 The Bad Ambassador Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:48:13 +0000 http://www.publicinquiry.eu/?p=963#comment-189484 I don't believe Dr. Reilly has a case to answer. At the time of the negotiations he was responsible for getting the best deal he could on behalf of the country's doctors (which is exactly what he did). Had the government not rushed headlong into a rash, vote-getting decision without first entering into discussions with medical professionals, they may have been in a stronger negotiating position from the outset. While the per-patient fee doctor's receive could be viewed as excessively high, and in light of current economic situations should be open to re-negotiation, it is worth noting that the agreed fee was the product of negotiation. The government clearly considered it a reasonable deal if they were willing to accept it. Of cours, when taken in the context of Bertie's habit of throwing money at problems in an effort to keep everybody happy, this is hardly surprising. I don’t believe Dr. Reilly has a case to answer. At the time of the negotiations he was responsible for getting the best deal he could on behalf of the country’s doctors (which is exactly what he did). Had the government not rushed headlong into a rash, vote-getting decision without first entering into discussions with medical professionals, they may have been in a stronger negotiating position from the outset.

While the per-patient fee doctor’s receive could be viewed as excessively high, and in light of current economic situations should be open to re-negotiation, it is worth noting that the agreed fee was the product of negotiation. The government clearly considered it a reasonable deal if they were willing to accept it.

Of cours, when taken in the context of Bertie’s habit of throwing money at problems in an effort to keep everybody happy, this is hardly surprising.

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