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Ireland's nurses carry out second day of national strike

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation dismissed the government's response to their industrial action as ‘spin masquerading as substance’

IRISH nurses walked out for a second day of national strike action today, accusing the government of “spin masquerading as substance” after last ditch talks failed.

Picket lines were reported to be solid across the country as the stoppage began at 8am this morning, with hospitals cancelling 50,000 non-emergency operations.

Ireland’s government said the action – part of a long-running dispute over pay and conditions – was “disappointing” and claimed to have always listened to concerns over “working conditions and job satisfaction as well as the patient experience.”

Unions are demanding a 12 per cent pay rise, which they say will address an acute recruitment and retention crisis in the country’s hospitals.

However, a government statement said: “The ministers continue to be willing to engage in talks on the range of workplace-related issues other than pay to try to resolve the dispute.”

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) dismissed the government’s press release as “spin masquerading as substance.”

General secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: “Government by press release is unfair and confusing to patients and insulting to nurses and midwives on the picket lines.

“Recycling broken promises is no way to build good-faith negotiations. The government’s press release refers to non-pay issues, which are already agreed since 2017.

“The INMO previously referred the government to the Workplace Relations Commission to try to find a solution to this dispute, but the government failed to engage or make any proposals.”

The nurses’ action has received widespread support from patients and the public, along with Sinn Fein, which has called on the government to resolve the dispute.

Mr Ni Sheaghda said there is “no settlement in sight” and further strikes are due on February 19 and 21, in addition to action planned for Thursday and next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

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