Bank branches on the east coast are expected to continue operating normally today, despite a worsening dispute over cash deliveries.
Some branches will quickly run out of cash, however, unless the row at the security firm, Brinks Allied, is resolved, according to a banking industry spokeswoman.
Delivery staff at the company have refused to implement new security procedures, claiming they would leave them more vulnerable to attack by armed robbers. As a result, the company has not carried out deliveries this week, leaving 160 out of 200 non-branch ATMs without cash.
The Irish Payment Services Organisation, which represents the banking sector, warned on Wednesday that 80 branches were in danger of running out of cash by the weekend.
However, an IPSO spokeswoman, Ms Una Dillon, said yesterday the branches were managing to maintain supplies. "They are doing everything they possibly can to replenish their ATMs and the machines do not appear to be going down just yet," she said. If the dispute was not resolved over the weekend, however, some branches would face a "serious situation", with cash reserves likely to begin running out.
Brinks Allied delivers cash to branches of AIB, Bank of Ireland the Ulster Bank in Dublin and other east coast areas.
Ulster Bank, in a statement yesterday, said all of its branch ATMs were unaffected by the dispute and continued to dispense cash.
In addition to its branch network, all Easycash ATMs were also providing cash, it said. In total, 95 per cent of Ulster Bank ATMs were operating fully.
The dispute between Brinks Allied and its staff, meanwhile, appeared to worsen yesterday and there were no plans in place for renewed talks.
SIPTU, which represents the staff concerned, had sought to have the matter referred to the Labour Court, after members rejected settlement proposals drawn up in talks at the Labour Relations Commission.
The union said it received an initial indication from management that it was agreeable to the referral to the court. Yesterday, however, it was told the company had not consented to the proposal.
Mr Kevin McMahon, the union's security branch secretary, said it was now seeking to have talks reconvened at the LRC. He was awaiting a response from the company.
He said management had sought negotiations yesterday on changes in work practices, additional to those already in dispute, but he did not think this was advisable in the current "highly charged atmosphere".
"We are prepared to sit down and talk about changes, and to co-operate with the company, but only in a climate where everyone is in a rational state of mind."
Before new changes were discussed, the two sides needed to address the issues at the centre of the current row, he added.
Mr McMahon said if staff were allowed to resume "normal working", all the affected ATM machines would be restocked by the weekend. Deliveries have stopped because management insists they take place only under the new security procedures.
The company has declined to return calls seeking a comment.
