FIANNA Fail called on the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, to intervene directly in the paramedics dispute and bring both sides to the Labour Court.
Criticising the Government's handling of the dispute, the party's health spokesman, Mr Brian Cowen, said the Minister should get directly involved "before there is more disruption and more hardship for patients and families. The dispute will have to be resolved at some stage, so it might as well be sooner rather than later."
Mr Cowen raised the matter on the adjournment and said the dispute was causing intense pain and suffering for many patients.
He said a unilateral decision was being taken by the Government to break well established pay linkages without the agreement of the union concerned.
The Minister of State for Health, Mr Brian O'Shea said the Government's position was that the nurses' settlement was unique "and claims made by other grades must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of the PCW."
He said every effort was being made to resolve the dispute and informal contacts were being maintained. Mr O'Shea said if the IMPACT paramedics were to be offered the nurses' deal, the pay bill would be "in the region of £13 million. If other linked paramedics are included the figure reaches £20 million."