Talks on a national economic recovery plan have been adjourned and are due to resume at 9.30am tomorrow.
It is understood that a number of complex issues arose tonight and it was felt it would be best to allow Government officials to work on drafting position papers.
The Taoiseach was at Government Buildings throughout the day.
He held a meeting with some of the parties this morning and had a further meeting in the evening with a delegation from the Congress of Trade Unions.
Mr Cowen indicated his intention that there would be a cabinet decision on Tuesday on how to move forward in tackling the country's economic difficulties.
Unions are particularly anxious to see how the government proposes to cut the public pay and pension bill of €20 billion.
A number of negotiators arriving for the talks earlier said the next 24 hours would be critical in determining whether a deal can be done.
SIPTU president Jack O'Connor said if there were to be an agreement, it would be contingent on the better off contributing in line with their ability to do so - and that would have to be done this year.
Blair Horan of the CPSU which represents lower paid civil servants, said his priority was to ensure that those on low to average incomes would be protected to the maximum extent possible.
He said that he would not be talking about pay cuts but that his members were used to having what he called adjustments on the non-pay side.
Mr Blair acknowledged that the hole in tax base could not be closed without increases at the higher level - but said people on low incomes would want to see those on high incomes pay their fair share of tax.
John Douglas of MANDATE, which represent low paid private sector workers in the retail sector, said he did not see low paid workers in the private sector carrying the can for the current economic crisis.
He said he expected them to be protected and to receive whatever pay increases they are due.
Asked about public spending cuts, he said cuts should not be targeted at frontline staff or at social services that the marginalised and those dependent on social welfare payments relied on.
IBEC warns about driving away investors
Employers group IBEC has said it would be wrong to take any steps - including immediate taxation increases - that would drive investors and entrepreneurs out of the country.
IBEC Director General Turlough O'Sullivan acknowledged that many workers were losing their jobs.
However, he said the reality was that people who had invested in the economy and engaged in job creation over the last number of hears had also taken a major hit in recent times.
Mr O’Sullivan said that he did not think the public would thank anybody for increasing taxes at a time when it was obvious to everybody that what the Government needs to do is cut its own spending.
He said the reality was that businesses were bleeding and profits were a thing of the past.
Union says pension protection key issue
The trade union which represents workers at Waterford Crystal has said the issue of a pension protection fund would be a key issue on the agenda at talks on an economic recovery plan which have resumed at Government Buildings.
UNITE National Secretary Jerry Shanahan said if the Waterford workers worked for Waterford Wedgewood in the UK, 90% of their pension would be guaranteed.
However, he said legislation in Ireland does not provide any pension protection.
He said the priority was to get the plant back to manufacturing, get the staff back to work, and to deal with the pension situation.
He said there had been meetings this afternoon and there would be a report back from the negotiators - adding that the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical.
Agreement is crucial - Hanafin
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin said it is crucial there is agreement in the current talks.
She said the Government have to support the most vulnerable and that there will be no cut in social welfare benefits.
