Talks between the Government and nursing unions at the Labour Court have ended for the evening.

The negotiations, aimed at averting three days of strike action by nurses next week, began at 11am this morning.

As they wound down this evening, it was agreed that all sides would return tomorrow afternoon.

The INMO said that, while a lot of issues were discussed, next week’s strike action is still scheduled to go ahead.

If it does, over 80,000 patients face the prospect of having their medical appointments cancelled.

The INMO has warned that ongoing issues over pay and working conditions have led to the recruitment and retention crisis in the health service.

The union said the crisis has made Irish hospitals unsafe for workers and patients.

The nurses and midwives are demanding a 12% pay increase.

The Government has said that this would cost €300m and claimed that, with the threat of Brexit and economic uncertainty, it is simply not affordable.

It has warned that any special deal for nurses will lead to a flood of claims from other public service bodies.

Psychiatric nurses are also due to strike next week, meaning 43,000 medical staff will be on the picket lines - 37,000 from the INMO and 6,000 from the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA).

This evening, the PNA also announced a further three days on 19th, 20th and 21st of February – that is in addition to the planned strikes next week.