The nursing profession had not received the attention it deserved for many years, the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, said.
"Significant improvements in their position had clearly been warranted as a special case, and a comprehensive approach has been required to the issue of concern to the profession and the health sector as a whole.
"It is because the Government recognises this that we have been willing to go as far as we have in agreeing to the wide range of improvements which have been implemented or offered over the course of the last two years."
The Minister was speaking during the resumed debate on a Lab our private member's motion censuring the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, for "his failure to take appropriate action to secure a solution to the dispute".
Mr Martin said that since the publication of the nursing commission's report 13 months ago, significant progress had been made across a wide range of areas.
"Each of these developments has been helping to forward a progressive and ambitious program me for the nursing profession. The Minister has reiterated to the House that he intends pressing on with this programme and is seeking agreement on the identification of priorities and implementation strategies."
The Government, he added, was not seeking to face anyone down, or to deny any group, particularly one such as the nurses, which had made such a major contribution to our society, the recognition it deserved.
The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said there was more to social partnership than a set of rules. It should also be a process. "And I would argue that the Government's refusal, even to this date, to sit down face-to-face with the nurses is in itself a breach of the spirit of social partnership."
He said the Taoiseach had come close to reprimanding the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, for his input into the dispute so far.
"After the Minister's latest comments today, he should now go further. The Minister is responsible for a great deal of the anger now evident on picket lines and despite the mild rebuke from the Taoiseach seems intent on digging the Government's hole even deeper."
Mr Ulick Burke (FG, Galway East) accused the Government of dismantling the health services and leaving people in pain. He asked the Minister for Health: "Do you wish to deny the nursing profession the entitlement of a just wage for the services they provide for this State?"
A Government amendment to the motion, endorsing the efforts being made by the Minister to bring about a resolution of the dispute, was carried by 71 votes to 66. The Government was supported by the Independents Mr Jackie Healy-Rae (Kerry South), Mr Thomas Gildea (Donegal South-west), Ms Mildred Fox (Wicklow) and Mr Harry Blaney (Donegal North East).
