Doctors accept LRC proposals

The Irish Medical Organisation and the Health Service Employers Agency have accepted LRC proposals aimed at resolving the nine-week old strike by public health doctors.

Around 270 doctors attached to Ireland's health boards went on strike on April 14 in pursuit of improved pay and conditions.

The doctors were seeking pay parity with hospital consultants and the implementation of a properly funded out-of-hours service for evenings and weekends.

The LRC proposals provide for an adjudication process which the HSEA said will get underway this evening.

Spokesman Gerard Barry expressed optimism that the acceptance of the proposals by both sides in the dispute would eventually lead to a resolution.

"I would be hopeful that this does mark a turning point in the dispute. We have a number of hurdles to clear yet, but certainly this marks an important breakthrough," he said.