Health Minister Micheál Martin has welcomed the deferral of threatened industrial action by the country's hospital consultants.
At a meeting in Dublin last night, the consultants agreed to defer the action by four weeks following a request from the Minister.
Mr Martin said he felt the action was unnecessary and that he was confident he could conclude his talks with the Medical Defence Union within a month.
However, consultants will continue to refuse to carry out administrative work pending full resolution of their dispute with the Department over indemnity cover.
