Strike action in the country's Emergency Departments has been averted after nurses voted in favour of revised proposals to address overcrowding, which were put forward by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

The nurses, all members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), voted 71% in favour of the proposals. They had rejected previous proposals as they felt that these did not address ‘the critical issues of confidence and clinical risk'.

The INMO has now called for the proposals to be implemented in full ‘in every location'.

"The acceptance of these proposals by our members re-affirms their absolute commitment to their patients and to ensuring that they can deliver safe care to the sick and vulnerable presenting to them. Our members constantly stated that this was never about pay and conditions, but it was all about ensuring the unacceptable situation in EDs was prioritised by management," commented INMO general secretary, Liam Doran.

He said that the INMO has been highlighting this issue for 12 years, but this latest agreement ‘has the potential to represent a step change in how management tackle this problem'.

"We will continue, in the interests of our members and the patients they care for, to lead the campaign seeking the implementation of this agreement, and also the need for additional beds, staff and services right across the healthcare system," he added.

The news was welcomed by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, who described the 71% majority as ‘decisive'.

"I can assure staff of my personal commitment to seeing that the agreement is implemented in full," he said.