Scores of workers are spending a fourth night occupying the Waterford Crystal factory tonight in the hope that a bid from a second US-based consortium could save hundreds of jobs.
More than 700 workers - 480 of them in manufacturing - were employed at the plant until Friday, when the company’s receiver David Carson announced he was ceasing manufacturing immediately.
Negotiations between Mr Carson and the US-based Clarion investment consortium were continuing today, with trade union leaders yet to be briefed in detail on any rescue plan.
Members of the Clarion group, which is believed to have the backing of Waterford Crystal former chief executive John Foley visited the Kilbarry plant today.
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and local TD Martin Cullen, who also visited the site today, said yesterday that Clarion Investments had submitted a fresh bid for the company on Saturday night.
The bid envisaged that the company would continue to manufacture its high-quality "stem line" of crystal products in the factory in addition to new lines of crystal ware. It is understood that of the 300 jobs that would be retained at the plant, at least 200 would be in manufacturing.
Unite, which represents around 90 per cent of staff at Kilbarry, backed the offer from Clarion Capital claiming it would maintain manufacturing in the city and retain some 300 positions.
Unite representative Walter Cullen today hit out at accusations that the peaceful protest had descended into anarchy.
"These workers feel passionately about their jobs as something more than filling a shift," he said. "They have conducted themselves throughout with dignity and respect for the property.
"Those who are concerned about the image of Ireland might look more to the events surrounding some of our financial institutions rather than events in the south east as a cause for greater concern."
About 60 staff are planning to maintain the sit-in overnight in the visitor centre.
Workers are occupying the factory on a shift basis and have maintained a presence of more than 100 since they first stormed the building on Friday amid scuffles with security guards.
Local shops have been supplying them with food and drink while blankets, mattresses and sleeping bags have also been brought inside.
Meanwhile, the plight of the Waterford pension scheme took centre stage at Government Buildings in Dublin as unions, employers and Government officials continued negotiations on a €2 billion public sector saving scheme.
Unite Irish regional secretary Jimmy Kelly travelled to Dublin from the Kilbarry factory to join the talks.
"It should have happened before now but at least the meltdown of Irish pensions is now being addressed in a meaningful manner and we are hopeful of a positive outcome," said Mr Kelly.
Unite has backed the protest by current and former employees since Friday night after they heard that more than half of the 670-strong workforce were to be made redundant and operations were to halt until a buyer is found.