EC threatens action on excessive hours by junior doctors

The European Commission is threatening to take Ireland and Greece to court over the hours worked by junior doctors.

We are now being given two months to inform the Commission how legislation will be brought into line with EU law.

The Commission notes that Ireland is still allowing doctors to work 100 hours per week, and in some cases 36-hour continuous shifts.

It says it considers the situation a serious infringement of the working time directive and may refer the issue to the Court of Justice unless the Government gives a satisfactory explanation.