Strike action by nurses at seven Emergency Departments (EDs) nationwide, which was to begin today, has been deferred following ‘lengthy deliberation'.

The nurses, all members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), voted 92% in favour of the action in a recent ballot. The decision was taken to ballot members on industrial action due to the continuing overcrowding and inadequate staffing levels in EDs nationwide.

This has led to patient care being compromised on an ongoing basis, the INMO insisted.

In an attempt to avert strike action, the INMO, HSE and Department of Health officials had entered talks chaired by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). These talks broke down last week without agreement and the strike action looked to be going ahead.

However, the decision to defer today's action was made ‘to allow members consider proposals which emerged following further re-engagement under the WRC'.

"This consultation and subsequent balloting will take place over the next two to three weeks. The planned strike action scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, and Tuesday, January 26, 2016, remain in place at this time and the action has only been deferred," the INMO said.

The proposals which are set to be considered by members include specific measures to assist with the recruitment and retention of ED nursing staff, including the establishment of an ED Staffing Taskforce, which will set minimum safe staffing levels nationally and will report by March 31, 2016.

Another proposal is an educational bursary for new entrants worth €1,500, which will be payable after one year in employment.

"The INMO's consistent objective throughout this whole campaign has been to ensure EDs are as safe as possible for patients and staff. Our members will now be fully briefed on what has emerged and they will decide whether they are capable of improving the current environment experienced by both patients and staff every day," commented INMO general secretary, Liam Doran.

The seven hospitals which were due to be affected today were Beaumont and Tallaght Hospital, both in Dublin, Mercy Hospital Cork, Cavan General, University Hospital Waterford, Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore and University Hospital Galway.