The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, came under fresh attack from the Opposition yesterday, with Labour and Democratic Left spokeswomen accusing him of mishandling the nurses' pay issue.
According to the Labour Party's spokeswoman on health, Ms Roisin Shortall, the Minister's refusal to forward three pay-related issues to the Labour Court or the Labour Relations Commission was "a slap in the face for the nursing profession".
Ms Liz McManus of Democratic Left called on Mr Cowen to honour the commitment given by him while in opposition to accept in full the recommendations of the Commission on Nursing.