The Irish Hospital Consultants Association today accepted the formula proposed by the Independent Chairperson for the resumption of talks on a revised consultants common contract.

The Board of the HSE indicated on Thursday that it would accept the proposals designed to end the breach of Sustaining Progress by the HSE.

It is expected that talks will resume shortly.

Speaking to the Annual Conference, the President, Dr Mary McCaffrey, said "The challenge for the HSE and consultants is to be open and more flexible so that we can quickly move to a new era in health care provision. May I add that, in addition to being "open and flexible", the HSE must be honourable and honest in their relations with us."