The Irish Pharmacy Union has agreed to meet Minister for Health Mary Harney as a dispute that has led to hundreds of pharmacists pulling out of State drugs schemes continues.
The executive committee of the IPU met this morning to discuss the crisis.
In a statement issued afterwards, the body expressed "grave concern" at what it said was the failure of the HSE’s contingency planning and the threat to patient safety which had arisen during the past week".
IPU president Liz Hoctor asked pharmacists "to continue their efforts to support their patients at this difficult time".
She said the executive "regrettably, did not believe that a resumption of normal pharmacy services was likely at this time".
Ms Hoctor acknowledged, however, that the Minister had today offered to meet with the union and confirmed that the union "will make itself available for that meeting".
Ms Harney made clear that she was willing to meet the IPU only to discuss the future and "developmental role" of pharmacies.
In a statement issued through her spokesman, Ms Harney said she welcomed the move by the IPU to accept her offer to sit down and discuss the future of the pharmacy sector.
The Minister said she would look forward to such discussions taking place at a time when the pharmacists with contracts with the HSE are providing the services required under those contracts.
The HSE yesterday secured a High Court order forcing more than 30 pharmacies in the east to continue to provide medicine under the terms of the community drugs schemes.
Government sources said last night they were increasingly confident that the dispute was coming to an end but again ruled out the appointment of any form of third-party mediator.
The IPU said on Thursday that the row could be ended if the Government appointed a third party to look at the impact of the cuts in fees.
Pharmacy sources also said that this process could be part of the architecture of a review of the reductions in all professional fees in the health sector which the Minister will have to carry out, under law, by next summer.