Up to 500 HSE paramedics were on strike action on 22 January 2019 as Army- National Ambulance Service Representative Association (Nasra) ambulances and staff provided cover for patients

Striking members of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (Nasra) were to handle life-threatening and potentially life-threatening calls from 7am until 5pm. Defence Forces' ambulances and trained crew were based in the east and southern regions.

Army ambulances and staff provided cover for patients today as up to 500 HSE paramedics were to stage strike action. The body is affiliated to the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA). The row centres on the demand by Nasra that the HSE should deduct its union subscriptions at source.

Siptu is not involved in the action. The HSE is resisting and saying it recognises Siptu, Unite and Fórsa for staff in the service. In particular Siptu is the recognised trade union for front-line staff, said the HSE.

"Recognition of other associations or unions would undermine the positive engagement that exists and would impair good industrial relations in the national ambulance service."

It said managers who are qualified paramedics would be carrying out frontline duties today also.

At the National Ambulance Service Dublin South Central station on Davitt Road in Dublin members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association were picketing the gates this morning on day-one of its strike about union recognition.