Non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs), formerly known as junior doctors, have voted to accept a new agreement aimed at eliminating unsafe working hours.
The proposals were agreed following negotiations between the doctors' union, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health.
The IMO balloted its NCHD members on the proposals and recommended acceptance of the deal.
81% of the votes cast in the ballot were in favour of accepting the agreement.
In June, NCHDs voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action, up to and including strike action in a dispute over working conditions.
The IMO described the doctors as demoralised, frustrated and angry and accused the HSE of contract breaches by requiring NCHDs to routinely work unsafe and illegal hours.
The new agreement will see the introduction of rostering rules where NCHDs must be granted appropriate rest and employers could be financially penalised for breaches.
It will also involve the development of a new centralised payroll system and the introduction of nationally agreed timesheets to ensure NCHDs get paid for all hours worked.
Negotiations on a new NCHD contract are due to to commence in January.
"This has to be the beginning, not the end, of comprehensive reform of the working conditions faced by NCHDs" said Dr John Cannon, Chair of the IMO's NCHD Committee.
"We expect that the HSE and all hospitals will now abide by the terms of this agreement and the IMO will be monitoring compliance."
"NCHDs have been left to deal with unsafe working conditions for too long and if the HSE does not ensure compliance we will take industrial action," Dr Cannon added.
