Health sector strike 'must go ahead'

Health workers say their 48-hour strike action which will hit seven Dublin hospitals must go ahead because the notice for it was served before the latest talks on public sector pay were agreed.

Sectoral disucssions between trade unions and Department of Finance officials are now underway while it is hoped proper negotiations on public sector reform will begin later this week.

However a work to rule by members of the Civil and Public Service Union is continuing, while porters, caterers and some ambulance crew at Dublin hospitals will also down tools next month.

SIPTU's Paul Bell said it is too late to prevent the 48=hour work stoppage.

"There may be some confusion about the scheduled 48-hour dispute on the 7th and 8th of April in the major hospitals of Dublin," Mr Bell said.

"That withdrawal of labour will go ahead as planned because notice for that industrial action was served before discussions on Friday last."