Operations cancelled due to electricians' dispute

The HSE says it has already been forced to cancel a number of operations at Kerry General Hospital due to the dispute with electricians in the south of the country.

It says 11 procedures have been cancelled since last week.

The HSE began suspending electricians earlier this week when they refused to carry bleepers or answer pagers.

It claims the dispute centres on whether general operatives should be allowed to change lightbulbs instead of qualified electricians.

However, the TEEU says this is misleading and the row actually revolves around a number of outstanding issues and the HSE's refusal to accept third-party arbitration.

Hospitals in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford are all affected by the dispute.