The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has been urged to intervene to prevent an all-out strike next week by public health doctors.
The plea came yesterday from Fine Gael's health spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell, who said a strike would be disastrous given the global bio-terrorism threat as well as the threat of SARS, the pneumonia bug which has killed more than 70 people worldwide.
The State's 270 public health doctors, who are charged with managing the control of infectious diseases, have threatened to strike in a dispute over pay and other issues. They are currently engaged in a work to rule and meet today to discuss their next step. It is expected they will give one week's notice of strike action.
Ms Mitchell said it was also essential that the doctors were on duty to make preparations for the Special Olympics.
She said: "During the Special Olympics we will host probably our largest ever mix of people from all over the world. The potential for transmission of disease is huge. Ireland cannot be without the vital services of our public health doctors at such a time.
"The Minister for Health must order the Health Service Employers Agency to the table with a realistic offer," she added.