ICTU call for talks on doctor’s dispute

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is calling for both sides in the Junior doctors dispute to engage in talks immediately.

Congress believes the Health boards should set aside the rosters at the centre of this dispute and doctors should suspend strike action.

Some 600 out-patient treatments and 48 non-emergency operations have been cancelled to date in this row in Waterford and Tullamore.

Liam Berney of Congress believes, unless talks take place, strike action could spread nationwide.

"We believe that the current dispute between the IMO and the Health board should set aside their current positions to set allow for discussions.

"That would involve the Health board retracting the rosters that the dispute centres on. This would allow the IMO to seek to find an answer to the dispute and allow for negotiation."