3890. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to confirm if a future officer holder will be permitted to engage in private practice on site, once appointed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58092/26]

Public Only Consultant Contract (POCC) holders are not permitted to engage in private practice within public hospitals. This position is unequivocal. There are no exemptions, arrangements or deviations from the terms of the contract. It is the Minister’s expectation that all hospitals and all consultants are fully compliant with the terms of their contract.

Where deviations have been identified, such as in the Rotunda Hospital, the Minister has been very clear that immediate action must be taken by the HSE to ensure full compliance. The Minister for Health is fully committed to the implementation and enforcement of the Public Only Consultant Contract so that its full benefits are realised for patients and the wider health system. The POCC is the only contract available to new consultants since 8th March 2023. Any appointments to Master of a Maternity Hospital would be made on that basis.