The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) says it will be difficult to recruit for the newly announced nursing positions here.

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar revealed yesterday that 500 new nursing jobs will be created this year.

These positions are in addition to 300 mental health nursing positions also due to be filled this year.

Mr Varadkar made the announcement at the Fine Gael national conference. He also said he hopes Irish health care workers living abroad will come home.

The INMO is welcoming the new jobs - but says it will be difficult to attract people to return home with poor working conditions currently in Irish hospitals.

General-secretary of the INMO, Liam Doran says the health service could have to advertise the nursing vacancies internationally and offer better packages.