Striking nurses who came off the picket line to provide emergency cover will not be compensated by the State, the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, insisted yesterday.
The INO estimates its members have provided 750,000 hours of unpaid work since the strike began, saving the State £16 million. They want this gesture recognised in the form of a payment.
However, Mr Cowen said yesterday that no payment would be forthcoming. "It was union policy to provide emergency cover and it was a unilateral decision," he said.
"What I am concerned about is that the Labour Court recommendations will get the consideration they deserve."
The decision to lift pickets rested with the executive of the Nursing Alliance, Mr Cowen said, but he hoped the nurses would return to work while the balloting continued.
Mr Cowen said the recommendations aimed at ending the dispute were fair and reasonable, and would be accepted by the Government. They were the result of a very lengthy and comprehensive process.
This was the fourth set of recommendations to deal with the nurses' issue, and Mr Cowen said the recommendations fairly reflected the concerns of both sides.
"I think in the past it has been the tradition of the Government, having entered into the negotiating process, to accept the recommendations of the Labour Court," he said.
The recommendations would be given immediate consideration by the Government.
Speaking to reporters at lunchtime yesterday at the inauguration of a telephone helpline for the elderly, the Minister was careful not to pre-empt the decision of the Nursing Alliance executive.
Questioned about hostile messages from some strike committees and picketing nurses, Mr Cowen said it was important that the Nursing Alliance executive be given time to consider the recommendations.