Nurses to resume talks with HSE this afternoon

Nursing officials and HSE health chiefs resume talks aimed at resolving their dispute over pay and conditions under the auspices of the National Implementation Body later today.

The INO and the PNA are confident of a proposal from health employers on a 35 hour working week today.

Negotiations however on their 10% pay claim are not expected to be quite so straightforward.

Nurses and health employers face into their fourth day of intensive talks.

Negotiations were adjourned on Thursday after progress was made on the 35 hour working week.

The INO and the PNA have said they expect health employers to come back today with a proposal and a start date for a shorter working week for nurses.

They have acknowledged that they might have to accept a compromise on the pay issue, but also said the fact that employers are willing to talk about a pay rise is a good sign.

A series of planned hour-long work stoppages at 50 of the country's hospitals were avoided when the talks began earlier this week.

However, the 44,000 nurses continue with their work to rule