Unions representing workers in the National Ambulance Service (NAS) are meeting the HSE at the Labour Court.

Mary Lou McDonald criticised Micheál Martin’s response to the 24-hour ambulance strike which ended at 8am on Wednesday.

The Department of Health has said it is ‘regrettable’ the strike has gone ahead and that the industrial action would have a significant impact.

Almost 2,000 SIPTU members in the NAS voted overwhelmingly last week for strike action relating to a dispute over updated salary scales within the service.

Trade Union Unite said despite the fact that the review recommended enhanced pay scales to reflect these changes, those pay adjustments have not been.

First Timers on the Frontline follows student, intern and newly qualified paramedics as they face real emergencies.

First Timers on the Frontline follows student, intern and newly qualified paramedics as they face real emergencies.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the case was an example of the ‘severe crisis’ in the ambulance service

Ambulances took more than an hour to respond to more than 1,500 emergency calls in the first half of this year

The Kilkee unit of the Coast Guard and National Ambulance Service were alerted, while the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter was also tasked to the scene.

Ambulances have been damaged by deer and even a flock of racing pigeons in recent years.

Freya, from Newcastle, Co Tipperary, had been in the water with her friend along the Suir Blueway at around 4.20pm.

An air ambulance was eventually sent to the scene from Co Cork by which time a road ambulance had become available

The rule, reportedly signed off last Friday, means paramedics would have to leave their vehicles at a central location after their shift and drive home in their own cars, even if they are on call the next day

In some cases, delays of up to four hours were reported following calls to the National Ambulance Service

CRITICAL, which has volunteer groups across the country, said their responders have been tasked to a range of collisions in the last 14 months, ranging from collisions between cars, cars and pedestrians, and cars and e-scooters