The NAGP has entered into voluntary liquidation, GP members have been informed.
In an official member update from NAGP Directors Drs Andrew Jordan and James Stacey, issued at lunchtime today (Wednesday 22 May), it was announced the trade union’s holding company (NAGP) had entered voluntary liquidation with “regret and a heavy heart”.
The “business part” of the company is being wound up while the union part of the association, known as the Alliance of Family Doctors (AFD) will continue to operate and “may be joining one of the large trade unions”.
The announcement comes following weeks of controversy surrounding the association after its President and entire Council resigned amid serious governance concerns.
The update explained that, prior to what it called “leaks” and “adverse publicity” in the media, CEO Mr Chris Goodey had managed to secure a rescue package of €200,000 from “well-wishers of NAGP”, which would have been “enough to pay all creditors” and ensure viability.
“Unfortunately that rescue package collapsed after the negative media coverage. Had that particular article not run, the rescue package was there and we could have paid all our creditors”, according to the update.
“The negative publicity has effectively left us facing insolvency.”
The update, while blaming media coverage for the collapse of the NAGP, does not state that any recent media coverage about the association was untrue nor does it refer to governance and financial concerns raised by former members.
Directors Drs Jordan and Stacey met last Saturday and reached the decision, members were informed.
Negotiations are at an “advanced stage” regarding the AFD joining a large trade union, according to the update.
“This would address the Government’s excuses preventing us from entering into negotiations on contractual talks. One of the Government’s excuses for not allowing the NAGP into negotiations was the fact that we didn’t have Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) affiliation.
“With this in place it would allow
the Alliance of Family Doctors to negotiate, and more importantly, our members
would have a stronger more powerful voice into the future. It is important that
general practice has one single strong voice.
“Every member of the NAGP is an automatic member of the trade union, the
Alliance of Family Doctors. We want to ensure that every member is not
abandoned and enjoys strong representation into the future.”
