Updated 09.40

The Taoiseach says keeping as many nurses in Ireland as possible is "really important" in attempting to solve Emergency Department overcrowding.

Enda Kenny was responding to reports that all 1,500 nurses graduating this year are to be offered full-time work in an effort to combat the trolley crisis this winter.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has welcomed the move, but it has warned that it may not be enough to keep young health staff in the country.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny says boosting nurse numbers is a top priority for the health system:

His comments come as newspaper reports suggest nurses who are due to graduate this year may benefit from permanent offers that may be offered in an effort to ease overcrowding in hospital Emergency Departments (ED).

The Health Minister has insisted there is a plan in place to alleviate overcrowding.

After meeting ED nurses yesterday, Leo Varadkar said the most important thing to do was to implement that plan with the €100 million set aside to fund it.

It includes the opening of 300 more hospital beds from November, and extending the range of home care packages to help older people out of acute hospitals more quickly.

According to The Irish Independent today, the go ahead has now also been given for hospital managers to offer permanent jobs to this year's 1,500 nursing graduates.

It comes as the executive of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation sits down to consider balloting members on industrial action over the crisis.

The union is demanding 1,000 extra beds, at least, to alleviate the pressure.

General Secretary of the INMO, Liam Doran, spoke to Newstalk.com's Breakfast Show about his meeting with the Minister: