The dispute between the IMO and the HSE over excessive junior doctor hours may be nearing a settlement.

The IMO's is to ballot junior doctor members on settlement proposals drawn up at the Labour Relations Commission over the past week, and is recommending acceptance of the deal.

The proposals involve financial penalties for hospitals who breach working time limits.

The HSE has said it will eliminate doctor shifts longer than 24 hours by mid-January. It has also pledged to fully implement the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), which stipulates a maximum 48 hour working week, by the end of next year.

It is reported that the settlement proposals do not include extra payment for junior doctors where 24-hour shift limits are breached, although sanctions can be imposed on hospital managers.

The IMO staged a one-day national junior doctor strike last week, and threatened further strike action if the working hours dispute wasn't resolved.