There is confusion tonight over whether a long-running dispute between hospital consultants and health service managers over new consultant contracts has been settled.
In a statement, Minister for Health Mary Harney announced the successful conclusion of talks, saying the agreement marked a new era for the health service.
But the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said that while it had received a revised offer on pay from the Health Service Executive acceptance would have to be subject to "a wide-ranging consultative process".
IHCA assistant secretary general Donal Duffy said: "Considerable progress had been made in recent days and we are confident that there will be a speedy and successful outcome to negotiations"
Under the new proposals doctors opting for a contract which would see them work exclusively in public hospitals would receive a salary of up to €240,000
Ms Harney claimed the resolution was "the key to unlocking great improvements for patients that will be far-reaching and long-lasting". She said the new contracts would let patients be seen faster and aloow consultant services be expanded to an extended working day of 8am to 8pm.
The latest talks had been billed by the Government and the HSE as the final opportunity to reach a deal on a new contract for consultants.
Intensive negotiations involving the IHCA,HSE, the Department of Health, the Health Service Employers Agency and the Department of Finance had continued through last night and into today.
Under the HSE plans, consultants could sign up to a contract allowing them to work in public hospitals only, or to one allowing them to also practise privately but on a lower public salary.
Medical organisations had argued that for many doctors the new pay offer represents little or no increase in the hourly rate for the job, given that they will be expected to work a longer week.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) today agreed to return to talks.
In a statement, the IMO said it had agreed to return to the talks under chairman Mark Connaughton today.
"We withdrew from the talks yesterday because the employers were unwilling to address serious issues," said Sean Tierney, chairman of the IMO Consultant Committee.
"However, it would seem that our withdrawal has been the catalyst to encourage the employers to bring a sense of reality to their position. We are hopeful that, if the talks can proceed with realistic expectations on all sides, an early resolution can be reached."