METRO FREE Tuesday, November 24, 2009 www.nationalcraftsfair.ie see page 4 WIN A CRAFTS HAMPER WORTH 1,000! MORE than a quarter of a million public workers go on strike today despite signs last night that un- ions were preparing to restart talks with the Government. Major disruption is expected throughout the country as hospitals, schools, social welfare offices and local authorities shut down during the one-day action over plans to cut 1.3billion from the public sector pay bill. However, semi-state companies, including bus and rail services should not be affected. Flood relief workers and emergency staff in Clare, Galway and Cork will continue working to deal with the worst flooding in living memory in parts of the west and south. Critical medical services, including intensive, elderly, maternity care and cancer services will not be affected, union leaders promised. Butthousandsofhospitalappointments,planned admissions and surgeries have been cancelled. Accident and emergency services will be staffed by local strike committees who will judge the needs of patients on the day, according to Liam Doran of the Irish Nurses Organisation. Congress the umbrella organisation for trade unions said a Government blueprint for an over- haul of the public sector handed to them on Friday night came too late to halt the stoppage. Peter McLoone, chairman of the Congress public services committee said the document could form the basis of renewed negotiations with the Government as early as tomorrow. Although garda are forbidden by law from striking, officers have been advised by the Garda Representative Association they dont need to issue penalty points or fixed charge notices to motorists today. BY Brian hutton 250,000 walk out on strike taoiseach Brian Cowen walks over a makeshift pathway made from sandbags on his way into Ballinasloe Council offices in Co Galway during a tour of areas devastated by floods. Earlier, Mr Cowen travelled to Clonmel, Co tipperary and Cork to see first- hand the damage caused by the worst flooding to hit the country in decades. Full story: Page 5 Picture: PA COWEN visits FlOOd-dEvastatEd REgiONs hELP MEtro hELP thE EnVironMEnt. rECYCLE thiS nEWSPaPEr toDaY iNsidE tOdaY see Page 3 so, whats on the horizon for axed Jedward? see Page 3 Katie quits the jungle to be with her children PlUs Whats on tv tonight Pages 14-15 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html