Our ageing population is a “demographic time bomb” that will have serious repercussions for surgical services, the president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Kenneth Mealy, has warned.

Latest: Freelance doctors are "blackmailing" hospitals by holding a wildcat strike, according to a surgeon in one of the affected hospitals.

Sinn Fein has demanded that the Government “get to grips with the health crisis”.

Government Ministers will this morning consider a proposal to set up an all-party committee to plan the future of the health service.

Ireland is facing a "tsunami of healthcare problems" as the population ages, a GP has warned.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is launching a consultation process aimed at establishing a new model for the health services.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has promised to reduce waiting times for inpatients and day case treatment to 15 months by year end.

Junior Health Minister Alex White has said that the health system faces collapse if it does not change fundamentally.

Pharmacists will be legally obliged to substitute branded medicines with cheaper, generic drugs within months.

The Cabinet will sign off this morning on the reorganisation of the country's hospitals into six regional groupings.

More than 10,000 people have taken part in a march in Waterford protesting against health cuts.

Concerns have been raised over the prospect of downgrading Waterford Regional Hospital.

Junior Health Minister Roisin Shortall voted confidence in Minister James Reilly last night - though she did not state her confidence in him in her Dáil speech.

The Dáil returns this afternoon after the summer break with Health Minister Dr James Reilly facing a motion of no confidence.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association has agreed to enter talks at the Labour Relations Commission over working arrangements.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has today said that Health Minister Dr James Reilly is "to be admired" for ending the confusion about cuts to disability services.

Junior Minister for Health Roisin Shortall has admitted today that there was "poor communication" between herself and the Minister for Health over the planned cuts to the Health Service.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has accused Fianna Fail of having a "hard neck" after the party said it will table a motion of no confidence in Health Minister Dr James Reilly.

A dedicated unit to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has been described as a tribute to campaigners who died before it was built.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly has today described the length of the waiting lists for hospital outpatients as "pretty horrifying".

Health Minister Dr James Reilly said today that a survey highlighting a shortage of senior doctors in Emergency Departments is misunderstood.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly said today that elective surgeries may have to be postponed while hospitals deal with the impact of staff retirements at the end of this month.

The Public Accounts Committee has today heard how the establishment of primary pare in the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2010 was "patchy".

Taoiseach Enda kenny has today insisted that the Health Service Executive has a contingency plan to deal with staff departures.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly said today that more hospitals will have their Emergency Departments downgraded this year.

A demonstration against cutbacks in the health service is being staged in Limerick at 6pm today.

The Health Information and Quality Authority's published new recommendations on referrals for patients from their GP to outpatient and radiology services.

Laois-Offaly TD Charles Flanagan has vowed to fight any downgrading of services at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

A group of doctors is today predicting that delays in Accident and Emergency departments at Irish hospitals will get worse next month.

Fine Gael's Denis Naughten has today branded a proposal to reduce Accident and Emergency hours at Roscommon Hospital as "totally unacceptable".

Health Minister Dr James Reilly has today pledged to radically reform the health service to ensure equal access on the basis of need, not ability to pay.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly is to outline his plans to nurses at a meeting later today.

The new Health Minister Dr. James Reilly will give the keynote address at the 7th Annual National Healthcare Conference, which is due to take place later this morning.

A large crowd is expected to gather outside Roscommon Hospital this afternoon, in protest against proposed cutbacks to its accident and emergency services.

Thousands of people have turned out to protest against cuts at Navan Hospital in Co Meath today.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has today rejected angrily assertions the health system is in disarray.

The findings and recommendations of a major report into health sector funding and resource allocation will be discussed at a conference in Dublin today.

The mass exodus of qualified nurses and midwives emigrating for work is soul-destroying, it was claimed today.

Fine Gael's Health spokesperson Dr James Reilly has said his party would review the National Children's Hospital project if it got into power.

The new National Children's Hospital in Dublin will not open until 2015, it emerged today.

A major public rally is to be held in Galway city this morning at 10am in opposition to any cuts in health services across the west.

Unions and the HSE have been meeting in Galway over the future of Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

The HSE has revealed plans to cut 10% of home help hours and well as a proposal to cut the jobs of 300 contract workers across the HSE West region.

The chief executive of the HSE has warned that difficult changes will have to take place in the re-organisation of respite services.