Nurses enter third day of strike action

Over 25,000 medical appointments have been cancelled today, as nurses take to the picket lines for a third day.
Their dispute with the government shows no sign of ending, with both sides holding firm on the issue of pay.
Day three of the nurses strike gets underway at 8am, and once more over 25,000 appointments, including for outpatients and day surgeries have been cancelled.
Injury units are closed, as are day centres for older people and those with disabilities, while community nursing and respite admissions wont take place.
The HSE says its getting harder to reschedule the tens of thousands of appointments as the industrial action continues.
37,000 inmo members are taking to the picket lines in their row with the government over pay and staffing shortages.
They say addressing pay is the way to attract and keep nurses.
The government says pay increases for nurses are included in the public sector pay agreement and conceding to the nurses demands would cost € 300 million.
Both sides last met at the Labour Court a week and a half ago. It decided they were too far apart to intervene.
No talks have taken place since.
The nurses plan three consecutive days of strikes next week.