asked the Minister for Justice whether he has yet met or proposes to meet Medical Union representatives concerning terms and conditions of senior garda doctors in respect of fees offered for carrying out medical examinations under the new breathalyser regulations.

17.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a full statement on the dispute between himself and the doctors' associations regarding the fees to be paid to doctors for breathalyser tests.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.

As I have indicated in replies to previous questions, discussions have taken place on three occasions with the Irish Medical Association and the Medical Union. At the initial discussions, these bodies indicated that they would negotiate fees for the taking of blood and urine samples only as part of a general claim by them in relation to all services provided for the gardaí.

A further meeting with the Irish Medical Association and the Medical Union has been arranged for Friday, 24th April.