In 2004, the Labour Court varied a Rights Commissioner's recommendation on an appeal by the Irish Nurses Organisation for a nurse at St. Vincent's University Hospital. The decision was signed on 14 July 2004. The Court directed management to grant one additional increment, with appropriate retrospection to her commencement date, recognising her UK grade E staff nurse placement and experience. It found management was within its rights not to recognise her UK State Enrolled Nurse service for incremental credit.
The union sought incremental credit for her UK State Enrolled Nurse service, arguing it should count under the established arrangement. The hospital argued that this service was not recognised as genuine nursing experience. The Court said the appeal concerned the Rights Commissioner's recommendation, not a complaint about an infringement of EU Articles.