Public health doctors urged to end strike

Health Minister Micheál Martin has reiterated his appeal to public health doctors to end their strike, which entered its second week this week.

Mr Martin said the doctors' participation is essential in any plan to tackle a potential outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Ireland.

The doctors went on strike last week after they accused the Government of failing to implement a nine-year-old agreement.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the Special Olympics, which are due to be held in Ireland in June, have insisted that the competition will not be affected by the worldwide SARS crisis.

Some observers had expressed concern that the virus could be brought to Ireland by groups travelling to the games.