Participants in the talks on a new contract for hospital consultants said that negotiations yesterday had been slow and frustrating.
The talks between health service management, the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association resumed yesterday and are scheduled to run until tomorrow.
It is understood that the parties yesterday considered clinical autonomy for doctors under a new contract as well as hours of work and practice plans.
Sources said that while the parties had discussed longer and shorter days for consultants no specific hours were mentioned.
Participants at the talks said that little progress was made yesterday. Sources said the issue of pay and private practice had not been mentioned.
The independent chairman of the talks process, senior counsel Mark Connaughton, is expected to report by early next week on whether he believes there is a basis for agreement on a new contract.
Health service management has said that the current negotiations represent the last chance for a new agreed contract for the foreseeable future.
If agreement is not reached on a new contract, it is expected that the Government will press ahead with unilateral plans to recruit additional consultants on revised terms and conditions.