The Labour Court recommended that North Western Health Board restore the previous annual-leave arrangement for permanent night staff at St. John's Hospital, Sligo, allowing leave in blocks of four and three nights. It also expected the Board to meet statutory public-holiday entitlements for staff required to work on those days. The recommendation was dated 19 April 1999. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union opposed restricting leave to seven-night blocks and sought 11.5 hours off in lieu for each public holiday. The Board said the seven-night blocks helped with rostering and that holiday entitlements followed the applicable rules.