An extra 1,722 nurses must be recruited to fill existing vacancies within the health system, according to figures from the largest nursing organisation.

THE leader of the union representing lower-paid workers in the civil service has predicted his executive will this afternoon vote unanimously to recommend rejection of the new pay agreement to its 14,000 members.

PUBLIC service staff are to hold a mass meeting later this month to discuss their ongoing industrial action in protest at the pay cuts announced in the last budget.