Nurses are set to continue industrial action this week despite criticism from the Health Service Executive Employers' Agency that they are damaging the reputation of nursing in Ireland.
The Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) and Psychiatric Nurses' Association (PNA) will carry out work stoppages at 12 sites around the country over two days.
The one-hour stoppages are due to take place between 11 am and noon tomorrow and Wednesday. Tomorrow acute hospitals Sligo General, Louth County Hospital and Bantry General Hospital will be affected. Mental health services will be affected in Sligo/Leitrim, Dundalk/Louth and west Cork.
On Wednesday, stoppages will take place at St James's Hospital, Dublin, Portlaoise General Hospital and Ennis General Hospital. St James's Hospital has said it is still in talks with INO members about the work stoppages planned for Wednesday, and will announce any limitations placed on services tomorrow.
Mental health services will also be affected in Laois/Offaly and Clare, as well as at St Patrick's Psychiatric Hospital in Dublin.
The 40,000 nurses nationwide will also continue their work-to-rule, which involves not dealing with non-essential phone calls or carrying out clerical or IT duties.
The stoppages come despite Brendan Mulligan, assistant chief executive of the HSE employers' agency, claiming that patients are pawns in the dispute and are anxious and stressed as a result.
"It's harming patients, the very people nurses say they are advocates for," said Mr Mulligan. "Procedures are being cancelled, causing anxiety and stress to patients and unnecessarily damaging the reputation of nursing in this country."
Dave Hughes, INO deputy general secretary, responded saying: "The very notion is patronising. Would he say that to the consultants or to the porters or general workers?
"Nurses are entitled to speak up and take action when they need to."
Nurses are seeking a 10.6 per cent pay rise and a 35-hour working week. At present, they work at least 39-hour week.