Nurses at the Mater Hospital in Dublin say overcrowding in their emergency department has eased this evening.

There were calls earlier for the hospital to go off-call when there were 45 patients waiting for a bed there.

But staff say the situation has significantly improved since then thanks to the discharge of several people.

Both Mater Hospital management and the INMO have agreed to further talks over staff shortages in the hospital where there are 100 nursing vacancies.

A work to rule is still due to go ahead in hospitals around the country on December 16th.

INMO members nationally have voted by 92% in favour of industrial action because of severe overcrowding across all 25 emergency departments.

The organisation has threatened strike action to take place on December 15th, unless they see significant measures to attract and retain nurses and provide safer conditions.