Some progress was reported yesterday after the 4th day of talks aimed at resolving the long-running public health doctors' dispute.
Negotiations will resume at the Labour Relations Commission this morning.
The strike, now in its 8th week, has involved the State's 270 public health doctors taking to the picket line outside health boards, hospitals and the National Disease Surveillance Centre. They are protesting over pay and working conditions.
Yesterday Dr Joe Barry, president of the Irish Medical Organisation, which represents the doctors, said it was important the dispute was settled before the Special Olympics World Games begin here on June 21st.
He said up to 250 cases of infectious disease had been reported to the IMO's emergency line during the dispute, including 100 cases of TB. There has been some concern, he said, about the risk that some Special Olympics athletes coming from SARS affected areas could pose to the health of the Irish population.