Talks between the Health Service Executive Employers' Agency and hospital consultants have adjourned for the evening and will resume in the morning.
The Agency has said today's talks with consultants represent the last chance to reach an agreement on new contracts.
The Chief Executive of the HSE Employers' Agency, Gerard Barry, said employers were approaching the talks in a constructive frame of mind. He said there are core issues to deal with such as limits on private practice and longer working hours.
Both sides have entered three days of intensive negotiations.
A report commissioned by Mark Connaughton, the independent talks chairman, on the ratio of public to private practice is expected to be tabled during the discussions at the Kilashee House Hotel in Co Kildare.
President of the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association, Dr David O' Keeffe, insisted a range of contract options were needed to keep Irish doctors working in the system here.
Dr O’Keefe said consultants wanted to see a level of compromise from management, which had not been evident up to now.
The Irish Medical Organisation's Director of Industrial Relations, Fintan Hourihan (left), warned the talks would be difficult and it would not be possible to say what the chances of success were, until they began and doctors could see what proposals were tabled.
The recruitment process for 68 new consultants was put on hold by the HSE until mid September, to encourage an atmosphere of good will.
An effective deadline of September 16th for agreement has been set.
