The Commuications Workers' Union and An Post are to contact the Labour Relations Commission this evening to outline their positions on the postal dispute.
The company and the union are considering proposals drawn up by the LRC. The document focuses on getting both sides to negotiate face-to-face.
Separate talks aimed at resolving the dispute were adjourned after 12 hours at 3 a.m. with no agreement reached. Mr Kieran Mulvey, chief executive of the LRC, said he had been in contact with the company and union chiefs this morning.
"They are due to come back to us this afternoon," he said. "We have absolutely no idea what their positions will be at that stage but the Commission will act with the information we are given.
"It is impossible to predict what may happen but we have to remain hopeful that we'll have something to go on this evening."
The dispute began 12 days ago when An Post began suspending staff at the Dublin Mail Centre for failing to carry out certain duties. More than 550 staff remain off the payroll and the postal service has been crippled in Dublin and four other counties.
All post boxes in Co Dublin have been sealed while customers in parts of Counties Wicklow, Monaghan, Louth and Galway have been asked not to send any mail.