Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has welcomed the breakthrough in the nurses dispute and urged nursing unions to accept the proposals on working conditions.
Nursing unions called off proposed work stoppages this week after late night talks with the National Implementation Body (NIB).
In a joint statement with Minister for Finance Brian Cowen and Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney, Mr Ahern said the proposals put forward by the NIB to resolve the dispute are the result of many weeks' of engagement in the issues within the social partnership process.
"The proposals are designed to be balanced and fair - fair to nurses, fair to all other parties to the Social Partnership agreements, and fair to taxpayers - through cost neutrality and on the basis that they involve no reduction in services to patients.
"Most importantly, they offer the prospect of an early resumption of full, uninterrupted health services to patients. The recommendations chart the way forward for change and innovation in nursing practice and working hours, in conjunction with wider change involving other health service staff. This will be to the benefit of patients and nurses alike.
"The Taoiseach and Ministers strongly urge early acceptance of the recommendations so that work on the package of actions set out today by the NIB can get underway."
In an RTÉ interview this morning, Ms Harney described the NIB proposals as "fair and balanced" and urged the nurses to accept them. She added that the Government was pleased that a potential solution was possible within the parameters of the public pay policy and the social partnership agreement.
Health Service Executive chief executive Brendan Drumm also welcomed the breakthrough.
"We have reached a point where, I hope, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think we have a fair and balanced resolution available to us," he told RTÉ.