Hospital consultants are playing down reports that they’re among the best paid in the world.

The survey has found they can earn almost twice as much as their counterparts in Britain.

The Irish Hospital Consultant Association's pointing to what it says are 'inconsistencies' in the data, including the fact that it doesn't include figures for the US or Canada, which are the main destinations for doctors who decide to emigrate.

The report also highlights Ireland's low spend on health as a proportion of the national wealth, compared to other countries in Western Europe.