Harney: Strike is 'most regrettable'
The Health Minister has said today's public-sector strike will only serve to deepen divisions between public and private-sector workers.
Some 250,000 government workers have downed tools over government plans to cut €1.3bn from the public sector pay bill.
The strike has led to the closure of schools, while hospitals have skeleton staffs on duty and welfare, local authority and revenue offices are shut.
The Dáil will sit later but, with all staff out on strike, the army has had to be called in to provide security.
Minister Mary Harney says the strike will achieve nothing other than creating a "deep divide" between public and private workers in the country "which is most regrettable".
