The master of the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, yesterday apologised for any hurt caused by its dealings with a group of nurses from India and the Philippines.
Dr Michael Robson said the hospital, at Holles Street, Dublin, would act speedily to address the concerns raised at the weekend by the Irish Nurses' Organisation.
The INO claims the hospital tried to intimidate the 16 nurses into signing contracts inferior to those they had already signed before their arrival in Ireland.
It says many of the nurses were traumatised and in tears after being summoned to a meeting on February 1st and told they would be sent home if they did not sign the new contracts by that afternoon.
The union is seeking an independent investigation into the way the nurses were dealt with by the hospital.
Dr Robson said yesterday he wanted to apologise for any problems that had arisen, and said the hospital was trying to sort things out "in the most appropriate way".
"This is an unfortunate situation; it has caused a lot of upset and hurt and really what I'd like to say is that it is being dealt with and we hopefully will be able to resolve it as soon as possible."
In an interview on RTÉ Radio's News at One programme, he said the hospital had been trying to make sure the nurses were employed "in the most useful way" in accordance with what had already been agreed. "I think if there has been any misunderstanding we have to look at that in detail and try to sort it out."
Asked if he accepted the hospital was to blame for what had happened, he said: "I think at the end of the day we have to try and make sure that this gets sorted out." Outlining what the problem was, Dr Robson said there seemed to be "a little bit of concern about what was agreed and what was not agreed", and reiterated the hospital's intention to resolve matters "as soon as possible".
INO official Philip McAnenly said the nurses had initially been hired on two-year fixed contracts as qualified general nurses.
At the meeting on February 1st, management had said they did not require general nurses, but instead wanted the 16 to train to become midwives.
According to Mr McAnenly, it was not explained to nurses that the new contracts would result in them suffering a drop in income over two years of just over €26,000.
They were also not told, he claimed, that the new contracts would oblige them to remain in the Irish public health service for two years after their training was completed.
