In the week which saw nurses call-off strike action over pay and conditions, 500 ambulance staff take to the picket   

Approximately 500 ambulance staff are on strike today (Friday) as part of an ongoing dispute with the HSE. Members of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA) are on strike from 7 am to 5 pm, because the HSE, on instructions of the Government, is refusing to recognise their chosen trade union.  The staff concerned are also scheduled to stage further work stoppages on Thursday, February 28th and Friday, March 1st.  ​

​The INMO has described the 11th hour effort by the Government to get nurses to come back to talks as "insulting". Further, they have confirmed that tomorrow’s strike will go ahead. The second day of strike action by nurses begins at 8 am tomorrow (Tuesday), and picket lines are expected to continue until 4 pm at 240 facilities across the country.

​The Government has pulled a 180 today, as Leo Varadkar has confirmed that the terms of reference of the inquiry into the overruns in the construction costs of the National Children’s Hospital will be revised to allow individuals be held accountable. Taoiseach Varadkar said they will be revised "to enable PWC to find individuals accountable or to identify individuals who made particular mistakes, if that’s what they find."

​Britain's International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, is looking to apply significant pressure to the Irish government and the European Union to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement with the UK.
He has warned that Ireland's continued refusal to renegotiate on the backstop protocol, means the likely outcome of the 'divorce' process will be a no-deal Brexit and a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Reports from the contingency talks between the INMO and Government negotiators is that the deadlock is worsening. In response to a steadfast Government position, the INMO has announced two additional strike dates. They are also escalating the number of services which will be on strike, with the total number rising to 240.

Multiple shots were fired at a house in Ballymun, Dublin in the early hours of Saturday morning. The incident happened at Belclare View, no-one has been injured in the incident, however, there was damage to the front of the house. There have also been reports that a nearby apartment was also damaged during the shooting. The scene was cordoned off this morning, and a Garda investigation has been launched into the shooting.

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