The Labour Party is to table legislation designed to ensure that junior doctors will not be expected to work a 65-hour week.
The party's spokeswoman on Health, Ms Liz McManus TD, said yesterday she would publish legislation soon "which will ensure that the 65-hour week for junior doctors is brought to an end in the shortest possible time-frame". She expressed concern at media reports that the Government intended to support British plans to amend EU working time directives so that junior doctors could be asked to work up to 65 hours a week for the next seven years, rather than the phased introduction of a 48-hour week proposed by the European Commission. The Irish Medical Organisation wrote to the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, and the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, last week to express its "grave concern" that the Government might support Britain's proposals.