An independent commission set up to to assess how a 35-hour week can be provided for nurses will finally begin its work next month, it was confirmed yesterday.
The commission was announced last year as part of the resolution
of a seven and a half week long dispute by 40,000 nurses over pay and working hours.
It was due to begin its work last November and was to have been chaired by Ms Justice Maureen Harding Clark.
However, Health Minister Mary Harney said yesterday difficulties subsequently emerged about the availability of Ms Harding Clark due to judicial commitments.
As a result, a new chairperson has now been appointed to the commission. It will be headed by Prof Tom Collins, head of the education department at NUI Maynooth.
The commission will commence its work next month, Ms Harney said, and is due to report within six months.
"The commission will examine the international experience of best practice in the activities and deployment of nurses, and the type of flexibilities and change which would be necessary to achieve a 35-hour week," she said.
"The commission will engage with nurses and management at national and local levels as part of its deliberations," she added.
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) welcomed the start of the commission's work.
Liam Doran, INO general secretary, said the commission was one of the key aspects of the proposals from the National Implementation Body, which were accepted by nurses by a close majority in May of last year, bringing an end to their industrial action.
It was also agreed at that time that nurses, who now work a 39-hour week, would have their working time reduced to 37.5 hours a week by June. Discussions are taking place at a local level to see how this can happen.
Ms Harney has already stated that the implementation of this working week will be a "major challenge for everybody" and that it will have to be done on a cost neutral basis.
Meanwhile, the other members of the commission looking at reducing nurses' working hours are: Alan Maynard, professor of health economics, University of York; Dr Phillip Della, chief nursing officer, Department of Health, Western Australia; Dr Siobhán O'Halloran, director of nursing services, HSE; Annette Kennedy, director of the professional development centre, INO; Ben Weathers of Siptu; and Nicky Jermyn, chief executive of Dublin's St Vincent's Hospital.