The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has recommended its members accept Labour Court proposals over staff shortages and pay.
Its executive council said on Wednesday its members should vote to accept the proposals aimed at resolving their recent strike.
The Labour Court has recommended changes in a proposed new contract for staff nurses and midwives.
It said nursing should be "put in a position to lead on [healthcare] reforms" and ruled out proposals for 'split shifts' - where shifts would be divided across the day.
It also guarantees that new nurses and midwives can reach a higher salary scale after one year and 16 weeks.
Members' update:
The nurses and midwives of your Executive Council have just met and are recommending members vote YES to the proposals.— Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) April 3, 2019
The INMO executive has said it will now move to ballot members, beginning on April 8th.
The deal also includes €5m in funding for safe staffing levels in 2019, with extra funding in 2020 and 2021.
An independent expert group will also look at pay for nurses and midwives in managerial grades, while allowances will be expanded to nurses in surgical and medical areas and to those in maternity services in hospitals or the community.
This would see a 20% increase in location and qualification allowances, by €372 to €2,230 and by €559 to €3,350 respectively.
There will also be extra promotion opportunities for staff nurses working in intellectual disability.
Nurses have held a series of strike days in the past number of months.
The dispute centred on pay issues and working conditions within Irish hospitals, which unions warned were causing the recruitment and retention crisis in the health service.
INMO General-Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: "There is no longer anything to fear in this new contract.
"The nurses and midwives of our Executive Council have now decided to fully recommend this deal to members.
"It does not resolve all our issues, but we believe it is a significant step forward for nurses, midwives and patients across Ireland."
"This deal gives our health service a real chance to recruit and retain nurses and midwives and compete with international recruiters.
"The deal includes safe staffing levels, increases in take-home pay, and more promotional opportunities."
INMO President Martina Harkin-Kelly added: "This is a hard-won deal. The elected Executive Council and I will be recommending that members vote to accept it.
"This is a good deal for all nurses and midwives and we are confident that the independent expert group will, in phase 2, deliver for our members in managerial roles."
Main image: INMO General-Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha attending talks at the Labour Court | Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
