Minister for Health James Reilly has said workers in the health service who are consistently sick will be brought in one by one for individual interviews with their managers.
James Reilly made the comments after it emerged that one in 10 workers in some parts of the HSE were ringing in sick, despite efforts to clamp down on absenteeism.
The Irish Independent said the ambulance service in the North East was the worst-hit area for absenteeism, with a rate three times higher, at 10.53%, than the HSE target of 3%.
Minister Reilly said the situation was untenable, and would be addressed throughout the heath service.