Today, around 270 workers at Caredoc, the GP out-of-hours service in Wexford - I think it covers part of the Tánaiste's own constituency or-----

It does.

-----county - have gone on strike. The INMO and SIPTU have said they are seeking implementation of a 2023 Workplace Relations Commission pay agreement that was agreed for section 39 organisations. They are specifically seeking the 8% increase that is due to their members working in Caredoc. This is the first of a number of planned strikes that will have a significant impact on GP's out-of-hours services. Last week, 14 ambulances were stacked up at Wexford hospital. It was chaotic and this will only add to that.

Can I ask if there can be any intervention? I appreciate there are industrial relations mechanisms but these workers are asking for something that was agreed in 2023, which was an 8% increase. Can I ask we do our utmost to ensure this series of strikes, which will have a chaotic impact in the likes of my county of Wexford, is averted as best we can?

I thank the Deputy for raising this. As he said, this is an issue I know affects his constituency and my own, the Minister of State's, Deputy Butler, and a lot of the south east. This is an issue that everybody wants to see resolved. I know it is an evolving situation but it is my understanding that further mediation is scheduled to take place today and it is possibly even happening now. It was scheduled to take place this morning. I am pleased that both Caredoc and the HSE have confirmed their attendance. It is important that everybody puts their shoulder to the wheel to find a resolution here.

Everybody, including those on the Government and HSE side, needs to show a bit of common sense in trying to find a way forward. I urge every party to the dispute to work really hard in the hours ahead through mediation to try to resolve this.