THE decision of the Irish Nurses Organisation to avert today's planned strike has been welcomed by Opposition spokespersons who have advocated that the nurses should be allowed to analyse the Labour Court recommendations without pressure before taking their decision.
Fianna Fail's health spokesman, Mr Brian Cowen, said last night the nurses could now "calmly consider the proposals" but it was up to them to decide how to vote in a fortnight.
The Labour Court had managed to address grievances in a way that was not possible in direct negotiations between the INO and the Department of Health "under the stewardship of the Minister". The Minister had "failed" to address what the Labour Court regarded as legitimate, he added.
"This was a failure of political will and the source of the nurses anger for the past two years. It is now a matter for the nurses themselves whether they regard the recommendations as sufficient and to come to their own decision," Mr Cowen said.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Democrats health spokeswoman, Senator Cathy Honan, said she hoped nurses would accept the Government's latest offer.
"The nurses have a very valid case for full restructuring of their profession. I hope that this commission proceeds with its work speedily and that it presents its recommendations to the Government before long. No one wants to be gazing into the abyss of a nurses' strike again," Ms Honan said.
Paying tribute to the State's 26,000 nurses for their professionalism and dedication to duty, she added that even as a strike loomed, they took action to ensure no patient suffered as a result. It was without parallel to see how they prepared to provide emergency, unpaid, cover throughout the duration of any work stoppage.