The union and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have proposed changes to the plans and are awaiting a response from HSE management.

Homecare, dementia and Alzheimer's services are among the sectors involved.

He said that “we all know how that ends” with regard to the prospect of a Fianna Fáil administration.

Gardaí are speaking to residents in Rathmullan Park in Drogheda, following the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods.

SIPTU have said members of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) are planning a national mobilising campaign to win respect and recognition for all ambulance professionals this year.

With weeks to run to peak flu season, hospitals are in the grip of a system-wide crisis as the nation’s emergency departments (ED) plunge deeper into chaos.

Ambulance crews are being “obstructed” from doing their job at Cork University Hospital because of the overcrowding crisis in the emergency department (ED), according to SIPTU.

This morning there were 577 people are waiting on trolleys across the country today, according to the INMO's daily Trolley Watch figures.

The mayor of Drogheda has called on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to make a public statement on policing in Co Louth after the murder of a man in a popular caravan park on Tuesday.

More than 7,000 health support staff are set to receive pay rises of up to 13% from September.

SIPTU has accepted an invitation to attend a Labour Court hearing to discuss the dispute involving 10,000 health service workers.

A full hearing of the Labour Court to try to resolve the health workers row is underway.

Latest: Three days of strikes by 10,000 health workers next week have been deferred at the request of the Labour Court.

Siptu have accepted an invitation to attend a preliminary hearing at the Labour Court tomorrow morning to discuss the dispute involving 10,000 health service workers over the implementation of a job evaluation scheme.

Talks will resume today in an attempt to prevent another three days of strikes by health-workers next week.

A 24-hour stoppage looks set to go ahead after talks between SIPTU, the HSE and Department of Public Expenditure at the Workplace Relations Commission yesterday failed to reach an agreement.

A 24-hour strike by some 10,000 HSE support staff at 38 hospitals and healthcare facilities is set to go ahead on Wednesday after talks at the Workplace Relations Commission collapsed today.

It follows two days of talks at the Workplace Relations Commission between Siptu and the HSE, which will resume on Monday.

Considerable disruption to hospital appointments is still likely today despite the suspension of a planned 24-hour work stoppage by 10,000 health support workers.

The HSE welcomed the deferral, saying that hospitals would try and reinstate patient appointments which had been cancelled.

Responding to comments made by the Minister on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland calling for both sides to resolve the issue in either the Labour Court or the Workplace Relations Commission, Mr Bell said that the Labour Court was not appropriate.

Patients due to undergo a procedure tomorrow will have to wait to hear from their local hospital to find out if their surgery can go ahead as up to 10,000 health support workers prepare to strike.

Health services are to be severely disrupted on Thursday - with 10,000 staff to strike.

Strike action involving up to 10,000 health workers is set to go ahead on Thursday after talks ended without agreement at the Workplace Relations Commision (WRC).

Talks will resume today aimed at resolving a dispute over job evaluation for workers in the health service.

Talks are to resume on Monday to try to prevent 10,000 health workers going on strike.

Talks between Siptu and the Department of Public Expenditure at the Workplace Relations Commission have been adjourned until Monday.

Talks between SIPTU, the HSE, and the Department of Public Expenditure are due to take place tomorrow ahead of planned industrial action by health support staff.

Health support workers in 38 hospitals and health care facilities have announced strike action for June 20.

There will be 36 hospitals impacted by strike action by some 17,000 support workers who are in dispute with their employer over a jjob evaluation scheme.

SIPTU has been balloting workers in health service support grades in 36 hospitals in a dispute over pay.

A recruitment freeze imposed by the HSE is having a “detrimental” impact on those already offered jobs by the health authority, according to Labour's Alan Kelly.

Up to 17,000 hospital support workers are being balloted from today on strike action.

More than 7,000 hospital support staff are to be balloted for strike action.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is poised to take further strike action if they are unhappy with the Labour Court’s imminent recommendation on a draft contract for nurses and midwives.

Garda investigations are underway after three paramedics were injured in two attacks in Cork since Sunday.

SIPTU members in Section 39 health and social care agencies have deferred strike action scheduled for this Tuesday, after accepting an invitation to the Workplace Relations Commission.

One always suspected a day like yesterday would come.

A proposed deal has been struck between Siptu and the HSE to end precarious work practices for the 8,000 home help workers employed in the community sector.

A group of Labour councillors have called on party colleagues to focus on core issues rather than a possible leadership challenge to Brendan Howlin.

The outgoing director general of the HSE was warned more than a decade ago that outsourcing the analysis of cervical cancer screening results could lead to the type of crisis which has now engulfed the system.

Union leaders are optimistic they can reverse pay gaps for public service workers that could potentially benefit up to 60,000 employees.

Health Minister Simon Harris has asked the HSE to conduct an “evidence-gathering” exercise with state-funded organisations providing health and social care to establish a factual position on pay reductions and pay restoration.