The Department of Justice has instructed the Church of Ireland to withdraw from all negotiations with asylum seekers in St Patrick's Cathedral.
A statement issued today by the Church of Ireland, following a night of intense discussion during which senior personnel attempted to broker a resolution between the asylum seekers and the authorities, reported talks had reached an impasse.
The statement said "we had arrived at a set of proposals which were acceptable to the asylum seekers and which we felt offered a fair and equitable way forward for all parties. Unfortunately, this view was not shared by the Department of Justice.
"In an attempt to find a way forward, the Church has offered a Church official to act as an independent observer at further interviews. Regrettably, this too is rejected by the Department of Justice," the statement read.
"We have now been instructed by the Department of Justice to withdraw from all negotiations as it has placed this matter solely in the control of An Garda Siochana whose responsibility it is now to deal with this matter."
Eleven Afghan asylum seekers have threatened to hang themselves from a balcony in the building.
The men were threatening to hang themselves if gardaí attempted to remove them and the other 26 men from Afghanistan who have been staging a hunger strike in the cathedral since last Sunday,
A heavy Garda presence was maintained from dawn throughout yesterday. Four of the original 41 protesters were taken to hospital yesterday and will not be permitted to return. Gardaí believe at least three of the eight minors involved were coerced into participation.
Sources said some of the men seemed "bent on martyrdom" and that their threats to kill themselves were being taken seriously.
The men were reportedly back on a hunger and thirst strike late last night after agreeing to take water for a period yesterday. Minister for Justice Michael McDowell insisted he would not negotiate.
Four of the men were taken away by ambulance yesterday. Three of them were hospitalised after their condition deteriorated, while the fourth - a minor - required treatment after slashing his wrists.