Hospital consultants and Minister for Health Mary Harney have agreed that their dispute over new contracts should be resolved by mid-October.
After meeting with the Minister this afternoon, Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) secretary general Finbarr Fitzpatrick said both parties showed a commitment to reach an early conclusion to talks.
Mr Fitzpatrick described the meeting with Ms Harney as a constructive contribution to re-opening the negotiations which have been stalled since mid-April.
The Department of Health says that 535 candidates have applied for posts under new contract terms which were advertised after the talks broke down.
Mr Fitzpatrick said Ms Harney had "intimated" that interviews for the 68 posts advertised would not proceed. A spokesperson for the Minister could not be contacted at the time of writing.
"Both parties recognised the need to appoint extra consultants and it was agreed that appointments should commence immediately following the conclusion of contract negotiations," Mr Fitpatrick said.
The independent chairman of the contract negotiations Mark Connaughton SC is to be appraised of the latest developments.
Mr Fitzpatrick also agreed with Mr Harney's position that a document produced by Mr Connaughton last April would form the basis of future talks but he said "much preparatory work" was needed.
This meant that talks in the coming weeks may not be possible, Mr Fitzpatrick added.
Ms Harney met with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which also represent consultants yesterday. The IMO described the discussion as "constructive".
Consultants took a limited form of industrial action last month after Ms Harney decided that after over two years of discussions she would press ahead with recruiting doctors on new contracts without agreement.
The Government wants to introduce contracts which apply to public hospitals only while a contract on lesser would be available for those who intending to treat private patients also.
As part of a plan make hospitals run on what is known as a consultant-led system, it is also proposed that they would be required anti-social hours