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Pay rise for nurses gets go-ahead Pay rise for nurses gets go-ahead
(10 minutes later)
Nurses in Northern Ireland are to receive the full pay award recommended by the Independent Pay Review Body.Nurses in Northern Ireland are to receive the full pay award recommended by the Independent Pay Review Body.
The move means that nurses and midwives will receive a 2.5% increase back-dated from 1 April.The move means that nurses and midwives will receive a 2.5% increase back-dated from 1 April.
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said all key workers in "the wider health service team" would also receive the recommended increase.Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said all key workers in "the wider health service team" would also receive the recommended increase.
"This pay rise is fully deserved and goes some way towards demonstrating how our health service is valued," he said."This pay rise is fully deserved and goes some way towards demonstrating how our health service is valued," he said.
The decision means that the only nurses in the UK who will not receive their full pay from April are those in England, who are getting 1.5% now and an extra 1% in the autumn.
Mr McGimpsey said he was on record as saying he believed that nurses "deserved to have their pay in full".Mr McGimpsey said he was on record as saying he believed that nurses "deserved to have their pay in full".
'Confidence''Confidence'
"I met with the RCN (Royal College of Nursing) and other unions and left them in no doubt that I would take all steps possible to make good on their pay award," he said."I met with the RCN (Royal College of Nursing) and other unions and left them in no doubt that I would take all steps possible to make good on their pay award," he said.
"For pay reviews to be credible, employees have to have the confidence in the system and in its outcome."For pay reviews to be credible, employees have to have the confidence in the system and in its outcome.
"Following consultation with my colleague at the Department of Finance and Personnel, Peter Robinson, I am now able to make good on the arrangement for paying our nurses in Northern Ireland.""Following consultation with my colleague at the Department of Finance and Personnel, Peter Robinson, I am now able to make good on the arrangement for paying our nurses in Northern Ireland."
The minister said the pay rise would also be awarded to administrative and clerical staff "as well as other support services".The minister said the pay rise would also be awarded to administrative and clerical staff "as well as other support services".