Ireland in court over work-hour breaches

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.

The case which is being taken against the State by the European Commission will open at the ECJ in Luxembourg on Wednesday.

Brussels first raised its concern about the practice of non-consultant hospital doctors working excessive hours with the Government in 2009 but has grown frustrated at the lack of progress on the issue despite some recent improvements to the work schedule.