The head of the State's main nursing union, which is on a collision course with Minister for Health Mary Harney over a pay and conditions demand, has accepted an invitation to address her party's annual conference in two weeks' time.
Liam Doran, general secretary of the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO), confirmed to The Irish Timeslast night that he has been invited to address the PD gathering in Wexford on February 17th.
On Friday the INO and the Psychiatric Nurses Association voted to take industrial action on pay and conditions, and served 21 days' notice for action with the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Nurses are seeking a 10 per cent pay rise, the introduction of a 35-hour week and a new allowance for working in Dublin.
Ms Harney is insisting that the claims by nurses cannot be afforded and will not be paid.
Mr Doran said last night he accepted that there was a certain irony in addressing the conference given the decision on Friday to take industrial action.
"But I agreed to the invitation with no hesitation. The only way we will get reform in the health service is to talk and I look forward to a frank exchange of views."
He said the invitation came from the Minister's office three weeks ago, and not directly from PD party headquarters.
Mr Doran will address a session on health which will also be addressed by Ms Harney and Dr Gary Courtney, consultant physician at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny.
Dr Courtney is credited with introducing a system at St Luke's which has cut down A&E waiting times by bringing patients straight into medical assessment units and then sending them to the appropriate section of the hospital for treatment.
Yesterday Mr Doran defended a decision not to give employers full details of the planned strike action, saying their goodwill was exploited in the past.
Mr Doran said they had learned from experience and in 1999 that the goodwill of both unions in providing unpaid emergency cover was used and abused by health employers.
"The one thing they did very quick in 1999 was almost within hours they cut the pay of nurses and midwives - the nine days' pay. They did that within 12 hours. It took them 12 months to pay the full settlement to nurses and midwives."
Meanwhile, the first of the political party annual ardfheiseanna in the lead up to the general election takes place next weekend with the Labour Party going into conference in the Helix in Dublin.
One of the guest speakers will be Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan, who will address a Saturday session on changing the face of policing in Ireland.
The session will also be addressed by former Irish Timeseditor Conor Brady, a member of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.