Unions and HSE to hold further talks on jobs freeze
Health service unions are due to hold further talks with the HSE today regarding the controversial recruitment freeze imposed recently.
The HSE has imposed the freeze in an effort to claw back a €250m budget overspend.
The measure was initially intended to last for just one month, but unions fear it will remain in place until the end of the year.
They are particularly angry that the HSE imposed the cutback without consultation and are insisting that any planned extension must be negotiated with staff representatives.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael is calling on the Government to ensure that proper standards of patient care are maintained if the HSE imposes any more cuts.
The party is accusing the coalition of reneging on a pre-election promise that there would be no cutbacks in the health service.
It says it will be introducing a Dáil motion this week aimed at making sure that any further moves to cut costs do not affect frontline staff and patient care.
