Nurses' strike, Entered second day
Talks are continuing late into the night between the Congress of Trade Unions and Government officials in an attempt to find a basis for negotiations on the nurses' strike. For the second day, pickets were in place at hospitals throughout the country. Arriving for the meeting ICTU General Secretary, Peter Cassells, said that they had made clear to Government that they would not be leaving without agreeing a process. Government sources have warned that significant difficulties remain. Nurses will protest through Dublin tomorrow and it appears likely that pickets will continue, at the very least, until the end of the week.
Earlier tonight, the Dáil voted to back the Government's handling of the dispute, by 71 votes to 66. However, during a debate on a Labour motion criticising the Government, there were calls for the resignation of the Minister for Health, Brian Cowen.
ICTU met nurses' leaders in advance of the the talks this afternoon. Consultations are also understood to be going on within Government. The latest talks initiative emerged yesterday afternoon from a meeting between leaders of Congress and the four nurses' unions. It envisages proposals for a new round of direct talks between the sides, with any outstanding issues being referred to a third party. In the context of a wider agenda, including the future of the profession and the need for investment in the health services, that was discussed for almost two hours last night between the ICTU and Government officials.
This morning, the Irish Nurses Organisation called for immediate direct negotiations with the Minister for Health. Speaking on Morning Ireland, David Hughes, the Head of Industrial Relations at the INO, also warned about the effects of a prolonged dispute. Also on Morning Ireland, Dr. Roisín Healy, a consultant at the Accident and Emergency department of Our Lady's Hospital for sick children in Dublin, described the situation for junior doctors as impossible. She warned that mistakes would be made if the strike continued.
