In 2003, the Labour Court recommended that the National Maternity Hospital and the Irish Nurses Organisation jointly review the hospital’s nurse-management structure and agree whether additional posts were needed. The recommendation was signed on 6 May 2003. The union sought more management posts, saying the hospital had not fully implemented recommendations from the Commission on Nursing. The hospital said seven posts had been implemented and it lacked authority to create more without sanction and funding. The Court recommended that the parties assess the structure against the report’s criteria and, if they agreed more posts were needed, that management seek sanction and funding. The issue could return to the Court if no agreement was reached.