The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has said that the health reform programme, now in its third year, is a challenge for everyone.
She told the Irish Nurses' Organisation conference in Killarney that she acknowledged the statement by the National Implementation Body and said progress could only be achieve through dialogue.
Ms Harney told the conference that the government had approved the appointment of the commission to see how a 35-hour-week can be delivered for nurses.
Earlier today, the Minister had said she does not accept that patient care will suffer as a result of measures taken by the HSE to make up its budget defecit of around €250m.
Speaking in Cork, where she officially opened a new €75m maternity hospital, Ms Harney said the health service had to live within its budget.
At the same function, the Chief Executive of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, said the HSE had spent money in providing services which was far in excess of what had originally been planned.
But he said he did not accept that there were people on waiting lists that would not be treated as a result of cuts in services.
The remarks come after the National Implementation Body said it is disappointed that the HSE’s decision to put a freeze on staff recruitment was marked by an absence of partnership with health unions.
Earlier this month the HSE announced a hiring freeze for the month of September, which it implemented to curb overspending.
The NIB has said that the executive and health unions should engage immediately to discuss the difficulties.
It also says that the Labour Relations Commission should be used if necessary.
The NIB says it has been made aware of particular difficulties at Ennis General Hospital and the risk of a major industrial relations dispute.
The Minister of State for Health and Children, Dr Jimmy Devins, has said he is uncomfortable with the job losses at Sligo General Hospital.
The Sligo-based TD said he has been told by the HSE that patient care will not be affected but staff have told him otherwise.
Dr Devins said anything that interferes with patient care must be avoided.
He said the HSE has a statutory responsibility to remain within its budget and he wanted to know why there was overspending.
Later today Ms Harney, is due to address the Irish Nurses' Organisation annual conference in Killarney as nurses threaten fresh industrial action.
Delegates agreed yesterday to launch a new campaign of action against the HSE recruitment freeze.
The INO wants an investigation into whether hospital staffing levels are safe.
Concern has also been raised about the HSE's decision to lay off four consultants and 30 agency nurses in Sligo as part of a cost cutting measure.
New maternity hospital in Cork
The Cork Univeristy Maternity Hospital, which opened its doors earlier this year, was built and equipped at a cost of €75m, and is designed to cater for around 7,500 births per year.
Its operational opening was delayed by a week because of a row with midwives over staffing levels.
The HSE says 264 new staff positions have been created: 24 mid-wives joined the service last week and a further 16 are due to start shortly.
However, the INO says it still has concerns over staffing levels, because of higher than predicted attendances at the new hospital.
