Drip, drip, drip.
Varadkar wonât know what to admit to now when he makes his speech in the DĂĄil
Youâve got to love it. Release a bit. Let him take a position and then make him look a mug. I presume theyâll wait to see what knots he ties himself in when he addresses the dail
given all the people hes leaked to itll be death by a thousand cunts
Celebrity medic @DrZeroCraic up to his neck in this scandal.
Its launch followed the controversial departure of IMO CEO Mr George McNeice from the Organisation with a huge pension pay-out of almost âŹ10 million at the end of 2012, which led to a large number of GPs resigning from the union.
While in 2014 the NAGP announced it had secured a negotiating license via an arrangement with the Independent Workers Union of Ireland and was optimistic it would enable the Association to take part in contract negotiations, this never came to fruition. The Government signed up to a memorandum of understanding with the IMO on GP contract negotiations following resolution of the CCPC issues and alleged the NAGP did not have affiliation with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and could not be a formal party to such negotiations.
While the HSE did engage with the NAGP on a range of general practice-related issues, including the pre-general election rural practice deal agreed by the Government in 2016, the NAGPâs absence from official negotiations on contract issues would remain a major stumbling block for its members until its demise in 2019.
Former Minister for Health Leo Varadkar gave the NAGP a cold shoulder following the under-sixes contract stand-off, despite strong pressure from NAGP members and conciliatory overtures from the Association.
However, the next Minister for Health Simon Harris took a more diplomatic approach and eventually invited the NAGP to the table on what was claimed to be a new GP contract. But, it was very clearly stated by its rival that the NAGP was only involved in âdiscussions and consultation as opposed to real negotiationsâ
The beginning of the end
In late 2017 cracks began to appear in the NAGPâs public image and concerns began to emerge from some NAGP council members regarding finance and governance. A rising deficit was among the first alarm bells sounded, causing some concern among ordinary members.
A five-figure deficit (âŹ33,000) was mentioned in the early 2017 AGM report and this was raised by a member at the AGM. It turned out staff pay at the NAGP for an average of three employees over a 15-month period was more than âŹ300,000, according to its abridged financial statements from 1 January 2016 to the end of March 2017.
The statements also revealed that income totalled âŹ835,000 for the 15-month period compared to administrative expenses of âŹ895,000, amounting to an overspend of around âŹ60,000. But the income included almost âŹ190,000 in debtors, largely made up of unpaid âmembership and sponsorshipâ, which would mean that actual income was âŹ645,000.
This was only the beginning, however, and the NAGPâs financial issues would continue to escalate until it became completely insolvent.
Abridged financial statements for the NAGP for the year ending 31 March 2018 revealed a deficit of more than âŹ114,000. The figure represented a significant increase based on financial statements for the end of March 2017, which showed a deficit of âŹ33,000.
Over the course of late 2017 and early 2018, a number of NAGP council members had been raising concerns and seeking answers on a number of issues. Frustration grew as questions were dismissed and went unanswered. As originally revealed by this newspaper, in early 2018 the NAGP lost six council members, including the then incoming President Dr Yvonne Williams. Many of these members raised concerns about financial and governance issues, and potential conflicts of interest within the Association. Some former high-profile spokespeople for the organisation quietly began to back away from the NAGP.
Following a report into governance arrangements at the Association, a number of changes were recommended. Remaining council members for months tried in vain to introduce the recommendations, while the Association continued its work for GPs, issuing press releases and hosting meetings, but to no avail.
A âwhistle-blowerâ document making a number of astonishing claims about the NAGP and some of its officials came into circulation in 2018, adding further fuel to the fire of negativity surrounding the Association.
Yep. I never heard an interview as bad as that on RTĂ.
Thats a very needy tweet.
Iâm wary of clicking that link.
Itâs not very professional.
They need to get on with it now
Itâll be put to bed by the time President Trump announces four more years.
ive embedded image now
Not exactly the same thing. But thanks.
Doctors love money.