The leaders of the four largest public sector unions are due to meet to assess the impact of yesterday’s strike and to discuss their next steps.
A 24-hour work stoppage by more than 300,000 public sector workers concluded at midnight last night.
The action led to widespread disruption throughout the day, including the closure of schools and the cancellation of thousands of hospital appointments.
Unions have accused the Government of failing to make meaningful commitments on pay following the expiration of the last public sector pay deal at the end of June.
But yesterday evening, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said there was intensive work going on in the background and that he was hopeful a way forward could be found in the coming days.
“I’d be hopeful that we’ll find a way forward, and in the next day or so we’ll be able to set out a further context,” Mr Chambers told RTÉ’s Six One News.
He also said the €1.2 billion for a public sector pay deal announced in the Budget is the “starting point” for discussions and the only way to develop that is to agree to have talks.
Mr Chambers had previously indicated that pay could be a starting point in any future talks, something which unions said could provide a pathway to a resolution.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he detected “a sense of goodwill and a willingness to try and get a resolution” to the dispute.
Unions are planning to engage in a second 24-hour strike next Wednesday and have threatened further action if there is no resolution.
The leaders of Fórsa, SIPTU, the INMO and the INTO will meet this afternoon to discuss their next steps in the dispute.
