Medical scientists have suspended further industrial action in their dispute over pay and conditions.
They have accepted an invitation to attend the Labour Court for exploratory talks.
Both the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA) and HSE/Department of Health have accepted the invitation.
The MLSA says all of its members will suspend further planned action and resume work as normal on Wednesday across all hospital laboratories.
Thousands of hospital procedures have been cancelled as a result of Tuesday's strike and action last week.
It was believed up to 30,000 hospital procedures would have been cancelled had the strike action continued into Wednesday.
The 2,100 scientists are demanding better pay and conditions, better career progression opportunities and more training supports.
MLSA General-Secretary Terry Casey says the union will enter the process 'in good faith'.
"The MLSA's executive committee met this afternoon and has agreed to accept the Labour Court's invitation.
"We will remain focused on what is required to achieve a sustainable work structure for medical scientists, patients and the Irish health service", he adds.
