The Minister for Transport has committed to consultations with trade unions on the Government's plans liberalise the bus market and break-up CIE.
In a three-hour meeting with the National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU) yesterday evening, Mr Brennan promised to engage in talks but added he remained committed to have 25 per cent of the Dublin bus market deregulated to other operators by early 2004.
The NBRU general secretary Mr Liam Tobin welcomed the impending talks and described the meeting with Mr Brennan as "very positive. As a result of the meeting and the agreement on talks the NBRU has deferred any further strike action.