Cork hospitals call off strike action

The SIPTU trade union has announced that hospitals in Cork city and county will be exempt from tomorrow's public sector strike action, because of the devastating floods.

The union represents, nurses, paramedics and support services, and says it made the decision for humanitarian reasons.

Nursing unions have also agreed to exclude Portiuncula hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, from the action.

They are the latest in a number of public sector workers to do so in the affected areas because of the pressure on frontline services in the aftermath of the floods.