The Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) has warned of further work stoppages next week after nurses staged a second walkout at five hospitals in Dublin and Roscommon.
Around 700 nurses stood down from their duties at Beaumont hospital in Dublin today, while 300 protested at two Roscommon hospitals.
The nurses, who are in a dispute with the Government over their demands for a 10 per cent pay increase and a reduction to a 35-hour working week, have stepped up their industrial action from work-to-rule to hour-long work stoppages in the last week.
INO general secretary Liam Doran told ireland.com today's strike action, which saw hundreds of nurses walk off wards, showed a "very strong commitment to the campaign".
Further work stoppages are planned for next week with details being announced on Sunday.
Mr Doran said the INO was looking for "meaningful discussion" with the Government over what he called a "pay anomally", which sees graduate nurses earn a salary of just over €30,000 while supervising the work of unqualified social care workers who earn €33,000.
"That's why we're looking for a 10 per cent pay increase," he said.
Mr Doran also responded to comments by the chief executive of the HSE, Prof Brendan Drumm who this morning ruled out any movement by the Government on its stance in this dispute until the nurses had first agreed to its working conditions.
"No side should rule anything in or out and we should get around the negotiating table," he said.
Dublin's Beaumont Hospital; St Ita's Psychiatric Service and St Joseph's Intellectual Disability Service, Portrane; Roscommon General Hospital; and Roscommon Mental Health Services were all affected by today's industrial action..
The INO and Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said the stoppage caused minimal disruption to patients but maximum disruption to management.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said contingency plans were in place for St Ita's Psychiatric Service in Dublin.
Some restrictions were placed on the mental health and intellectual disability day services, outreach services and outpatient clinics, however, and most appointments were rescheduled for this afternoon.
Beaumont Hospital said it had worked with the INO to avoid major disruption and full emergency cover was arranged. It apologised for any delays resulting from the stoppage and also from the ongoing work-to-rule action.
However, hospital chief executive Liam Duffy warned that a prolonged or escalated dispute would make it increasingly difficult for Beaumont hospital to maintain its services in the future.
Hour-long work stoppages that took place on Wednesday at St Vincent's in Dublin and at South Tipperary General Hospital have already forced the cancellation of almost 30 surgical operations.