McManus calls on government to enter into talks with nurses

Labour's Health Spokesperson has called on the Government to enter into "meaningful and genuine talks" with the nursing unions before the strike. Liz McManus said that it is extremely disingenuous of the Government to continually re-state the view that the Labour Court recommendations cannot be examined. In the current circumstances, said the deputy, they can and should be looked at again.

Nurses' strike committees met around the country today to finalise arrangements for next Tuesday's nationwide all-out strike. Earlier, medical organisations representing family doctors, junior hospital doctors and consultants met the Health Service Employers Agency to discuss contingency plans for the strike. Both the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association took part in the talks.

The IMO has issued guidelines to almost four and a half thousand doctors, saying that the provision of adequate facilities during the strike will be a matter for management. The organisation has said that it wants twenty-four hour cover in each hospital and community care area by senior decision-making managers.