Fresh talks between unions and health service management aimed at resolving the current dispute by 40,000 nurses are expected to last for several days.
Several hours of talks yesterday, held under the aegis of the National Implementation Body (NIB), the main troubleshooting mechanism of the social partnership process, dealt almost exclusively with the demands by nurses for the introduction of a reduced working week.
Informed sources indicated that there was no real progress made in the talks, although management said that it welcomed greater clarity by the unions.
The Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) and the Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) are seeking the introduction of a 35-hour working week for nurses and a 10.6 per cent pay increase.
The pay issue was not dealt with yesterday, but is expected to be addressed at a later stage.
At a plenary meeting between the parties at the start of talks yesterday, it is understood that management re-stated its willingness to reduce the working week for nurses by one hour at an early stage. However, in return, it sought greater flexibility on working practices in return to make this process budget neutral. It is understood that this was not acceptable to the unions.
Sources said that the nursing unions also re-stated their positions regarding the provision of a date for the introduction of a 35-hour week for nurses.
Some sources said the unions had indicated a willingness to look at issues such as rostering and skill mixes in hospitals as part of a reduction in working hours. However, this could not be confirmed last night. It is understood that the NIB believes finding a solution to the dispute could prove to be very challenging and that talks are likely to continue for several days.
Informed sources said that the NIB would seek to facilitate the parties in reaching an agreement on the necessary conditions to allow a 35-hour working week be introduced for nurses.
Sources said it was generally accepted that the introduction of a 35-hour week could prove more problematic in some areas of the health service such as some acute hospitals and smaller nursing homes than in areas such as community services.
Speaking before the talks, Des Kavanagh of the PNA said the nursing unions would table a variety of proposals aimed at resolving the dispute. He did not envisage the talks lasting until after the general election.
INO general secretary Liam Doran said he believed the talks would last "days rather than weeks". He said the NIB believed there was a basis for resuming negotiations and that the unions were committed to remaining in the process.
Mr Doran said the nurses' work-to-rule, which has been in place for nearly three weeks, would continue. He said the unions' decision to suspend the series of one-hour work stoppages in hospitals would be kept under daily review. David Begg of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which is part of the NIB, said its function was to find a road map for the parties to resolve the dispute.
The talks resume today.
