Pickets were placed at over one thousand locations today
Brian Cowen, Minister for Health
Talks between ICTU leaders and government officials aimed at finding a formula to begin new negotiations in the nurses' strike have ended. The two sides are to meet again at four o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Earlier, the ICTU general secretary, Peter Cassells, said the unions had proposed a process, which would involve direct negotiations with any outstanding issues being referred to a third party. Pickets have been in place at more than a thousand locations in Dublin and around the country, and reports from the regions indicate contingency measures appear to be working. The Government has said it is anxious that a process be found as speedily as possible for dealing with the issues raised in the dispute.
Leaders of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions met the four nurses' unions this afternoon to explore possible framework for talks. In a statement this afternoon, the Government said it was anxious that a process for dealing with the issues be found, in a way that was consistent with existing Social Partnership agreements and which would facilitate the maintenance of partnership into the future. The Taoiseach held discussions with the Ministers for Health and Finance about the dispute. Minister for Health, Brian Cowen, also briefed the Cabinet on his talks yesterday with the nursing unions.
Last night, Brian Cowen, acknowledged that ICTU could now have a key role in the effort to end the dispute. Speaking on RTÉ Radio this morning the deputy general secretary of the Irish Nurses' Organisation, Lenore Mrkwicka, said she hoped it would be possible to resolve the dispute within a week. The nationwide strike by over 27,000 nurses began at 8am this morning. Emergency cover is in operation and consultants and hospital doctors are performing some nursing duties such as administering injections. However, they have warned that if the strike lasts three days they will not be able to carry the workload.
