A breakthrough has been made in the long-running row between the Government and the IMO on the introduction of the under sixes free GP care scheme.

A newly-agreed deal between the IMO and the Department of Health, and a separate agreement with the Competition Authority, paves the way for direct negotiations to take place on the under sixes scheme.

The IMO and the Department had been holding 'talks about talks' in recent weeks.

The IMO has has announced that it has agreed to a comprehensive framework document with the Department of Health which will allow it to fully represent its GP members 'in relation to all aspects of their relationship with the Department in respect of the medical card/GP contract and other publicly funded contracts'.

In a separate and significant development, the Competition Authority has agreed to have its High Court action against the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) struck out with no order as to legal costs.

This court action centred on whether the IMO had the right to collectively negotiate on behalf of its members. The Competition Authority had previously ruled that the IMO could not negotiate on fees or related matters collectively on behalf of its members, while the IMO had disputed this.

The Government had agreed wit the Competition Authority and had said that it could not directly negotiate on fees, but the Minister could set fees after consultation with the IMO. This position now appears to have shifted and direct negotiations are now likely to take place.

The IMO says it has also now secured confirmation from the Competition Authority that it is entitled to represent its GP members with the HSE and the Government in respect of any proposed changes to publicly funded contracts with GPs.

Dr. Ray Walley, Chairman of the IMO GP Committee said these agreements were highly significant for the IMO and our GP members.

"They provide a framework for and acknowledge our right to engage with the Minister for Health and/or the HSE in respect of the scope and content and the resources allocated to - and fees payable in respect of - publicly funded contracts for GPs."

"These agreements confirm that the IMO is entitled to communicate with and, importantly, to discuss proposed agreements with our members and to freely express our opinions on those proposals. In doing so we acknowledge that it is the responsibility for individual members to decide whether to accept any proposal or not."

While the agreements pave the way for direct negotiation on the under sixes scheme, it is by no means a foregone conclusion that agreement will be reached, given that GPs will require greater resourcing to operate the under sixes scheme and the Government's resources are limited.