Overview
- Roughly 1,800 to 2,000 National Ambulance Service staff began a 24-hour strike Tuesday at 8am, with pickets nationwide and the stoppage due to end at 8am Wednesday.
- Under contingency plans, 999 and 112 stayed fully staffed and some crews agreed to leave picket lines for high‑acuity cases such as cardiac arrest or serious trauma.
- The HSE warned of long delays for non‑urgent calls and urged people to use injury units, GPs or pharmacies when safe to do so.
- Medical leaders, including the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine president, said the action poses a significant risk to patients and called for swift talks.
- Officials cited a rejected offer of 3% to 14% pay rises tied to service reforms on top of a 9.25% public sector increase, while unions scheduled 48‑hour and 72‑hour strikes on May 19 and May 26 if no deal is reached.