Nurses call for better conditions at national protest rally

Up to 1,500 hundred nurses have gathered for national protest rally at the Helix venue in North Dublin to call on Mary Harney to ensure better working conditions and wage increases.

The demonstration has been arranged by the Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Organisation, who are seeking a pay increase of more than 10% and a 35-hour working week for their members.

They also want a special allowance for Dublin nurses to take account of the high cost of living in the capital.

The INO and PNA have decided to opt out of benchmarking to lodge the claims with the Labour Court, where their case is due to be heard next week.