Uncertainty over the future make-up of the Cabinet has undermined the prospect of a deal being achieved this week on the future of public transport.
CIÉ unions and Department of Transport officials meet tomorrow at the Labour Relations Commission to begin three days of talks. The aim was to try to secure agreement on reforms planned by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, which unions had bitterly opposed.
There is increasing pessimism, however, that a deal can be achieved by Friday, the target date set by talks chairman, Mr Kevin Foley.
A number of sources said that uncertainty caused by the forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle had made a deal this week unlikely, given that it was not known whether Mr Brennan would stay in transport.
Mr Brennan and the unions have had a turbulent relationship since he took office, and some union leaders believe they may be able to secure a better deal if he is replaced.
On the other hand, there are concerns among unions that if the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, moves to the Department of Transport, it will be even more difficult to find common ground.
In any event, the uncertainty was said by union sources to have cast a shadow over the talks and made a final outcome by Friday unlikely.
A Department of Transport source, however, challenged this view and said officials would be attending the talks in the expectation of progress. Even in the absence of such uncertainty, there may be too much ground to be covered in the talks for a deal to be possible within three days.
Mr Brennan's initial plan, announced nearly two years ago, to break up CIÉ and give private operators control of 25 per cent of the Dublin Bus market was strongly opposed by unions.
A campaign of opposition included several transport stoppages and a "no fares day" in July last year.
With another strike looming two months ago, however, Mr Foley told the parties he believed the objectives of both sides could be met. He proposed a new round of discussions, which would also deal with future arrangements for Bus Éireann, with a view to completing a deal by September 17th.
As a result of Mr Foley's intervention on that occasion, the National Bus and Rail Union called off a planned campaign of industrial action.
One union source said yesterday there was too much ground to be covered to make a deal possible this week. Other issues on the agenda include the planned break-up of CIÉ, the role of a future transport regulator and the need to agree amendments to the 1932 Transport Act.
