The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has criticised the stance being adopted by the doctors' union, the IMO, in its dispute with the Department of Health over the European Working Time Directive.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil the doctors were holding to their position that their members could only be rostered on a nine to five basis in the country's hospitals; he described this as 'baloney'.
Mr Ahern appealed to the doctors to engage with the Department.
The directive is due to be introduced at the end of the month, and will limit the hours that doctors can work to 58 hours in a full week or 13 hours each day.
