Hundreds of ambulance personnel have walked off the job today in a dispute with health officials over union recognition.
It's the second day of strike action by workers who are members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA).
Around 500 ambulance personnel are picketing at locations across the country this morning as part of the 10-hour work stoppage.
The personnel involved include paramedics, advanced paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
They want the HSE to recognise the union of their choice.
It's their second day to walk off the job, with two further strike days planned for Febuary 28th and March 1st.
The HSE has previously stated that they already recognise a number of unions, including SIPTU, for ambulance workers.
Health officials claim recognising further organisations will not be good for industrial relations.
'No attempt to find a resolution'
On the picket line today, ambulance staff said the situation is "unbelievable".
One worker said: "The progress since the last day has been zero. It's been appalling.
"There is no will or any attempt by the HSE to find a resolution."
Peter Hughes , PNA General Secretary, argued: ‘The intransigence by the HSE in this dispute, and its determination to deny hundreds of ambulance personnel their wish to be members of a branch of the PNA is unprecedented and unwarranted.
"PNA ambulance branch is confident that it represents more members by far than at least one of the two unions recognised by the HSE for frontline paramedics’.
Today's strike will continue until 5pm.
