Consultants to resume contract talks
The latest round of contract talks between hospital consultants and the HSE have broken up without agreement after dragging on into the early hours of the morning.
The negotiations lasted for more than 15 hours and some progress is believed to have been made.
The Government and the HSE want consultants to agree to more flexible working hours and tighter restrictions on the treatment of private patients in public hospitals.
The HSE and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association are due to meet again at noon today in a final bid to reach a deal.
Minister for Health Mary Harney is vowing to press ahead with hiring new consultants on revised contracts if the latest round of negotiations is unsuccessful.
