Doctors have rejected a call to support the regulation of abortion services, where there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother.

Doctors will discuss the impact of the recession on the health of the nation when they gather for their annual Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) conference in Killarney later.

HOSPITAL consultants insisted yesterday a new contract could be agreed before the summer after Health Minister Mary Harney said she could not wait any longer and was pressing ahead with the recruitment of new consultant posts.

THE Progressive Democrats may be moving towards a rift with its Fianna Fáil coalition partners over the controversial electronic voting system.