As hospitals brace themselves for industrial action, the country’s largest nursing union has called on the public to join in a major protest outside the Dáil today to highlight emergency department (ED) overcrowding.

PATIENTS at some of Ireland’s largest hospitals are facing unacceptable emergency department delays, with half of attendees at Cork University Hospital (CUH) alone waiting up to 24 hours for treatment.

PRIVATE hospital group Mount Carmel expects revenues to have increased 5% to €67 million for last year but the company remains locked in discussions with AIB regarding its future.

A 42-year-old Dublin man who got involved in a fight to protect his friend has been acquitted of the murder of a father-of-two by a jury at the Central Criminal Court today.

A witness in the trial of a Dublin man accused of killing a father of two in North Dublin three years ago has said that the accused got involved in the fighting on the night to defend his friend and his son.

Tánaiste Michael McDowell will today open his first national conference as Progressive Democrats leader as the party languishes at its lowest-ever position in the polls.