No deal in maternity unit row

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) and Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) talked late into the night last night to try to find a resolution to the staffing row which threatens the opening of the new maternity hospital in Cork.

At time of going to press, both sides had still not reached any agreement on staffing levels despite being in talks since noon.

The €75 million hospital is due to open on Saturday and yesterday Health Minister Mary Harney said the INO cannot justify leaving the facility idle.