Representatives for the Afghan hunger strikers in St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin are meeting with immigration authorities in a bid to resolve the situtation.
As a result, most of the protesters have started accepting water, but a number are still refusing to end their thirst strike.
A spokesman for Residents Against Racism said it was mainly the younger protesters who were still on thirst strike, and that six or seven were continuing to refuse water.
Five of the men were taken to hospital this morning suffering from severe dehydration. A spokesman for St James's Hospital said the five were treated but said reports that some of them were in "critical" condition were incorrect. Three of the men were formally discharged this afternoon, while one had been admitted and another was in the process of being admitted. A sixth man was expected to be released fromt eh hospital today.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has reiterated that his position has not changed, and that the protestors could not be dealt with as a group. He said that he was pleased that the Afghan asylum seekers were taking water, but added that the system was not changing.
Osman Hotak, spokesperson for the hunger strikers
A total of 41 men are on the third day of the protest in a desperate attempt to stay in Ireland. However, it is now thought that at least some of the men may have begun their hunger strike before arriving at the church on Sunday.
The men, aged between 16 and 45, have been in Ireland for between one and five years but have been told they must return to their war-ravaged country - where they say their lives will be in danger.
Among those on the protest, which involves the refusal to take water, was a boy who celebrated his 17th birthday yesterday. He was taken to hospital yesterday with a kidney infection but returned to the hunger strike on his release.
Five men were admitted to hospital today, including the 45-year-old leader of the group, who also suffers from diabetes.
The Afghans are sleeping on benches and the floor of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. They gathered in the church hoping to pressurise Minister for Justice Michael McDowell into granting them refugee status.
Osman Hotak (27), who is their spokesperson, told ireland.comyesterday that his compatriots were willing to risk their lives stay on hunger strike rather than return to Afghanistan.
"We have committed ourselves until somebody comes to help us," Mr Hotak said.
"I come from Afghanistan, a country which was devastated by three decades of war. It is a really dangerous country. It is a very vengeful society with conservatism and tribalism, without freedom of speech and freedom of movement, and men are the first target."
The Green Party, Labour Party and Sinn Féin have all given support to the protest and have urged Mr McDowell to take action. However, he said that the men have been treated fairly by the Irish system and that they cannot be dealt with collectively.