Despite struggling with irregular meals and a lack of sleep, three out of four junior doctors said they enjoyed their first year as an intern.

Almost half of all junior doctors are “psychologically distressed”, says a study which indicates graduates are underprepared for their introduction to hospital workloads.

Medics have warned the Government they have been hit by a wake-up call after a European court published a legal opinion that junior doctors’ working hours are illegal.

Ireland could be facing fines of €100m over the working hours of junior doctors.

Ireland is facing infringement proceedings at the European Court of Justice this week over its long-running failure to comply with EU working hours legislation in relation to junior doctors in public hospitals.