Talks aimed at saving jobs at courier company DHL Express have begun between trade unions and management.
DHL announced last week that it was seeking 320 redundancies as it closes depots in Athlone, Galway, Sligo, Cavan, Enniscorthy, Waterford and Tralee.
After three hours of talks this morning, which included a presentation to unions on the rationale behind the company's decision, both sides agreed that a sub-committee would meet later in the week to carry out a detailed analysis of operations at each of the seven depots.
Siptu organiser Pat Ward acknowledged the company's willingness to engage with workers, and said the union would propose "innovative measures" with the potential to limit the impact on employees.
"The company have said that they would engage with us in a meaningful way in order to explore the possibility - and that's all it is - of reducing the number of redundancies or limiting the number of closures," he said.
"Equally, we will not be wanting in bringing innovative measures to the table which may, just may, save some of the jobs in those seven regional depots that they intend to close."
DHL has said the cuts are part of a plan to focus more on its international delivery rather than its domestic delivery market, although its Irish delivery service will continue.
A company spokeswoman said it could not comment on today's discussions until the outcome of the consultation process was complete.
DHL Express is the courier operation of Europe's biggest mail and express delivery company, Deutsche Post DHL. DHL employs some 300,000 people in more than 220 countries, including 1,600 in Ireland.