Hospital consultants rule out strike action

The Irish Hospital Consultants' Association has ruled out industrial action in response to pay cuts, following a meeting of its national council this afternoon.

However the group will meet with the Health Minister Mary Harney next week to discuss the 15% cut to their pay announced in the Budget.

The IHCA said it has no difficulty with accepting the cut, but it is concerned that some doctors will actually see their pay fall by 30% because of already-reduced salaries agreed in their new contracts.