An eight-point claim for improved pay and conditions was outlined to the Labour Court yesterday by two nursing unions.
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) are seeking a reduction in their members' working week as well as a special allowance for those based in Dublin.
They also want the court to address an "anomaly" which sees qualified and unqualified childcare workers paid more than staff nurses and midwives at every point of their respective salary scales.
The Health Service Executive Employers Agency, which also attended the Labour Court yesterday, has estimated the cost of the two unions' claims would be €1.67 billion.
This includes the "knock-on implications" as other workers seek to catch up with any awards made to the nurses.
The cost estimate of the employers was disputed yesterday by INO deputy general secretary Dave Hughes, who said it suggested the unions were seeking a €40,000 increase for every nurse.
"Obviously we are not claiming an increase of that order," he said.
Mr Hughes said nurses were entitled to have their jobs valued on merit rather than having to accept being in "last place" among health service professionals.
The INO and the PNA say nurses are the only grade in the health service required to work 39 hours a week. They are seeking a 35-hour week.
Minister for Health Mary Harney has said the two claims are not affordable and "will not be paid".
Mr Hughes said the unions had received a very fair hearing from the Labour Court.
He added that court chairman Kevin Duffy had told the two sides that the issues involved were complex and it would take longer than the normal three to four weeks to issue a recommendation.
