Management at Cork University Hospital has said it is extremely concerned that the treatment of cancer patients there will be compromised by ongoing industrial action.
The action is being taken by radiation therapists as part of the public service to work-to-rule.
The HSE is to seek an exemption from the work-to-rule for cancer treatment in Cork, as well as for treatment at the country's seven other regional cancer centres.
The specialised cancer unit was opened at CUH in December.
Since Monday, the eight cancer centres have been subject to industrial action as part of the work-to-rule being adopted by thousands of public servants.
However, SIPTU has denied that the treatment of patients will be adversely affected by the industrial action.
In Cork, a memo to radiation therapists, which has been seen by RTÉ News, advises them to enforce specific restrictions as part of that work-to-rule.
Among other things, the memo says not to check patients' appointments for treatment, not to answer phones, not to redeploy to other areas and not to work in units that do not have the recommended staffing levels.
Well over 250,000 public service workers are now participating in the work-to-rule.
Minister defends pay cuts
Meanwhile, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has defended the Government decision to impose different pay cuts on different groups in the public service.
At Question Time in the Dáil, he said that since 2008 a cut of 33.9% had been imposed on those at Secretary General level, while Deputy Secretary Generals had had a 27.3% cut, and 24.9% had been imposed on Assistant Secretaries.
Higher grade Principal Officers had lost 19.3%, while Assistant Principals lost 16.8%.
He said those rates compared with the 7.3% pay cut for a clerical officer.
