Nurses may take further strike action

Fears are emerging that there may be another nurses' strike over pay rates.

Nursing unions are warning that industrial action is on the cards if the current benchmarking system fails to deliver on pay.

President of the Irish Nurse’s Organisation, Claire Spillane, says nurses want the same pay as mid-wives and other Health professionals.

"We went on strike at the end of 1999 but that wasn’t the end of our problem. That was only the beginning of addressing the problems that exist, problems that nurses have had to suffer for far too long.

"We are hoping the benchmark will deliver on June 30, if it doesn’t we will be prepared."