Talks between nurses and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are set to get underway at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Thursday morning.

It is in a bid to avert industrial action in the row over overcrowding in emergency departments.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) plans to strike in emergency departments at seven hospitals on December 15th.

Another day of action is also planned for the New Year.

The INMO has published figures this morning which reveal a 24% increase in the number of people on trolleys in emergency departments between January and November when compared with the same period last year.