Result of nurses' ballot on industrial action due today

The result will be known later this morning after all 40,000 members of the Irish Nurses Organisation and Psychiatric Nurses Association were balloted on whether to endorse a phased campaign of industrial action for better pay and conditions.

If approved, this could include a nationwide work to rule, then a possible withdrawal of labour.

However, nursing unions always stress that emergency services will be maintained.

They are appealing to the HSE to hold meaningful talks with them on a 35 hour working week and better rates of pay.

As it stands, the INO and PNA say the nurses and midwives are the worst paid of all health professionals and have the longest working week.