Kevin Callinan became Fórsa’s Senior General Secretary last week as former leader Shay Cody retired from the post. He will be supported in the role by the existing General Secretary Eoin Ronayne and a deputy general secretary, who will be ratified by the union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) this week following a competition.

The first career pathway review for health and social care professionals (HSCPs) for 16 years is now underway, following agreement with Fórsa.

Free access to an adequately-funded public health system, which mainstreams currently marginalised services like mental health, are among the measures unions say should guide health service reforms.

Women in Ireland spend twice as much time as men carrying out unpaid care work according to new research.

Fórsa has said the growing shortages of health and social care professionals at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda are actively undermining the services the hospital is supposed to deliver.

There is “considerable regional inequality” in the supply of non-acute healthcare services, according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Health Research Board.

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has recommended that the national minimum wage should increase to €10.10, a rise of 30 cent.