A&E crisis to dominate INO annual conference

The ongoing problem of overcrowding in accident and emergency departments is expected to dominate the annual conference of the Irish Nurses Organisation, which gets underway in Killarney, Co Kerry, today.

The ongoing problem of overcrowding in accident and emergency departments is expected to dominate the annual conference of the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO), which gets underway in Killarney, Co Kerry today.

Delegates at the conference are also expected to express anger at the Health Service Executive's decision to withhold a 3.5% pay increase from nurses.

The HSE has insisted the move is linked to the INO's refusal to co-operate with a training programme, but the nurses believe it is linked to their campaign to highlight the A&E crisis.

The Tánaiste Mary Harney is due to address the conference on Friday.