The INMO says talks aimed at averting strike action by nurses are expected to continue until late tonight.
A spokesperson for the union says they're making slow progress at the talks with the HSE.
Negotiations at the workplace relations commission are ongoing - in an effort to prevent strike action by emergency department nurses this Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Health has moved to defend the Government's attempts at solving the trolley crisis.
Minister Leo Varadkar admits the situation is indefensible - but says the Government has tried tackling it in four ways.
"First of all greater investment in primary care particularly putting in place intervention teams, second thing is greater investment in social care more nursing home places.
"The third, people say we don't have enough bed capacity, which is true the last government took 1,000 beds out of the hospitals during the boom.
"I've put 300 in, was only able to get an extra 200 staffed but we'll have the other 100 staffed in the next couple of weeks and then the third thing is the whole process reforms."