Kenny criticises threat to dock pay from striking nurses

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has criticised the Health Service Executive's threat to dock nurses' pay because of their industrial action.

The HSE has warned nurses that it will withhold more than 13% of their wages if they do not end their work to rule protest and rolling work stoppages by this Friday.

Speaking during a visit to the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin today, Mr Kenny said he believed the decision would exacerbate the situation.

He said he would strive to set up further talks to resolve the nursing dispute if he was elected as Taoiseach.