An end to the ten-week old public health doctors' dispute may be in sight following the publication of an adjudication board's report recommending pay rise last night.
The report recommends the 270 public health directors and specialists get an 11 per cent pay increase, backdated from July 1997, with a further 2 per cent increase from July 1999.
The Irish Medical Organisation's (IMO) strike committee met yesterday evening to consider the report. They adjourned last night without any decision and are to meet this morning.
"We are considering the findings of the adjudicators' report, the proposals from the Labour Relations Commission and the issues between the IMO and the HSEA [Health Service Employers' Agency] regarding the implementation of the Brennan review," said the IMO industrial relations officer, Mr Fintan Hourihan.
A HSEA spokesman welcomed the "balanced adjudication" and said they were hopeful of a resolution of the dispute.
The IMO and the HSEA are due to meet at noon today to discuss the recommendations. A decision is anticipated later this afternoon.