Martin opens talks with unions

Talks are underway between the Minister for Health and unions over cutbacks in the health services.

The General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, David Begg, along with representatives from SIPTU and the INO will discuss the crisis with Michéal Martin.

The talks come amid news that more hospital beds are to be closed, and against a backdrop of growing industrial unrest.

General Secretary of the INO Liam Doran said this afternoon that they will have a number of issues to raise with the Minister.

He stated: "We'll be trying to impress upon him the difficulties that are out there, the stress that nurses and patients are under. We'll try and stress the fact that we can't sustain further cuts.

"We'll establish from him what his perspective is on the announcement by five hospitals to take 250 beds out of the system, how he's going to reverse that decision and how he's going to maintain existing capacity."