The Department of Health said yesterday it remains committed to reducing the working hours of junior doctors to 58 per week by the EU August deadline.
Doubts about the Government's commitment on the issue were raised at the weekend when the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said the deadline would be "next to impossible" to achieve.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which is currently in talks with health service managers on the issue, has asked the Government to clarify its position.
Under the EU working time directive, the hours of non-consultant hospital doctors are to be reduced to 58 per week by August and 48 by 2009.
Implementation of the directive depends, however, on the IMO reaching agreement with the Health Service Employers Agency on new rosters.
Uncertainty about the Government's stance on the issue was heightened following a meeting last week of EU employment ministers in Brussels, chaired by the Irish presidency, at which issues surrounding the working time directive were discussed.
