Coach tourism operators have called on the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, to take into account their concerns about any proposed changes at EU level to working and rest time arrangements.
They have criticised the "lack of consultation" from the Department of Transport with their sector.
A discussion on the matter was to have taken place at the EU Transport Council meeting presided over by the Minister tomorrow. However, it will not now be dealt with until June.
The International Road Transport Union as well as Spanish transport groups have been vocal in their objections to many of the proposed changes, saying tourism in peripheral countries would be severely affected.
The proposals would see coach tour drivers limited to a five-day working week, followed by two days off, and they would also limit the number of driving hours because off-loading and on-loading passengers would also be taken into account. The proposals do not take into account the stop-start nature of coach tourism, they say.
This would play havoc with the coach tourism industry here, adding at least 50 per cent to labour costs, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, Fine Gael spokesman on tourism said.
"It was put on the agenda by Ireland and the Minister and should never have gone on without consultation."
Ms Cora Collins, chief executive of the Coach Tourism and Transport Council, said her organisation had not been consulted.
Coach tour operators had only heard of the possibility of the EU discussion through others involved in passenger transport issues in the EU.
"We are very annoyed that this could have gone through without anyone consulting us. If this comes in, it will shut us down."