SCEPTICISM and cynicism summed up the mood of the 300 members of the Irish Nurses Organisation who attended a special meeting in Cork last night to vote in secret on the new settlement offer.
Ms Mary Power of the INO said there was no belief in the proposed commission on nursing.
Nurses did not feel the commission would deliver on its promises"or uphold their rights - particularly on early retirement. "I think the ballot is too close to call - it's hard to say."
Mr P.J. Madden, INO general secretary, said while the mood of members coming into the meeting was negative, significant gains had been made during negotiations on the nurses grievances and he felt once all of this had been explained to the membership the mood might be different.
Ms Margaret Shanahan, a nurse for 17 years, said the result was extremely difficult to call.