Substantive talks to avert renewed strike action at Dublin Bus begin this morning. There was muted optimism last night that an interim settlement could be achieved before Monday's 4.30 a.m. deadline, when pickets are due to resume on bus depots.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, is expected to announce the appointment of FAS director general Mr John Lynch as chairman of the CIE group on Monday. Mr Lynch AS and is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the semi-state sector.
Initial talks on the bus dispute yesterday saw what sources described as a "full, frank and repetitive" exchange of views.
A senior SIPTU representative, Mr Noel Dowling, said there was "a good working atmosphere" and felt progress could be made. However, the general secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union, Mr Peter Bunting, warned the dispute "will get very dirty and will be extended throughout the country", if the talks failed.
The first item on today's agenda will be assessing the value of the cost efficiencies proposed by Mr Bunting, which he estimates to be worth £2 million. Translated into pay terms this could amount to 4 per cent, or around £12 a week.
The human resources manager of Dublin Bus, Mr Gerry Maguire, said the company would work "to put flesh on the bones of the union proposals".
There is a proposal for an expert working group headed by the former president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr Phil Flynn, to be set up, if an interim settlement can be achieved this weekend.
However, some parties believe that if progress is made today, it might be possible to resolve the dispute in direct negotiations.