Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The directive stipulates that junior doctors must not work more than 48 hours a week on average. It also requires them to have a minimum of 11 hours rest between shifts. Instead, some of them work as many as 90 hours a week. That is not just bad for doctors because, today, 12,000 outpatient appointments and 3,000 operations have been cancelled.

The working time directive is not a new EU directive; it has been in place since 2000. In 2009, the EU criticised the Fianna Fáil-led Government, and in 2011, it criticised the current Government. Deputy Martin, as Minister with responsibility for health, did nothing.

See this speech in context