Nurses call off strikes after Labour Court intervenes with proposals
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has decided to suspend its planned three-day strike, which was due to begin tomorrow morning.
The decision by the INMO executive was taken this evening, after it received a recommendation from the Labour Court a short time earlier.
The court intervened in the dispute over pay and staffing this afternoon.
The Psychiatric Nurses Association has also suspended its industrial action.
Minister for Health Simon Harris has welcomed the nurses' decision.
Announcing the INMO's decision, General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said they had briefed the union's executive council on the recommendation and the executive had taken the decision to suspend the industrial action to allow time to consider the recommendation.
She said she would be meeting the union's strike committees on Wednesday, along with the executive and they would give full consideration to the recommendation at that time.
Patients
Despite the strike suspension, thousands of patients have already suffered cancellations of long-awaited appointments and remain on lengthy waiting lists.
There have so far been 90,000 appointment cancellations due to the three one-day strikes that have already taken place.
This week's scheduled strike days were expected to put huge pressure on the health system.
Financial Impact
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said he will brief Cabinet on the financial impact of the Labour Court recommendation in the morning.
Also speaking at Government's Buildings, he said that he hopes recommendations would form the basis for the resolution of the industrial action.
Mr Donohoe also said he believes that they are consistent with the Public Service Stability Agreement.
The HSE has also welcomed the suspension of industrial action.
In a statement the organisation said: "With INMO nurses expected to fully attend at work tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday, we will endeavour to do everything we can to restore normal services.
"However, it will be appreciated that this will not be possible in all areas.
"Our hospitals and community based services will make direct contact locally with patients and clients where services are restored."
The Irish Patients Association has welcomed the suspension of the industrial action.
It said that the industrial relations system had failed tens of thousands of patients, because of the delays to get to today's breakthrough.