Unions in CIÉ are to hold off on taking industrial action in response to reforms planned by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.
At a five-hour meeting yesterday, they decided instead to set up an action committee, which is to report back on June 13th on the options open to them.
While action may take place after that, the unions have decided there will be no disruption of the school exams or the Special Olympics.
That rules out the prospect of public transport strikes until the end of July at the earliest.
Yesterday's meeting was convened by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in response to Mr Brennan's stated intention to proceed with the break-up of CIÉ and introduction of competition to the Dublin bus market.
He wants to have 25 per cent of Dublin bus routes opened to competition by next January. Unions are prepared to discuss competition on new routes, but want existing Dublin Bus services ring-fenced.
Mr Liam Tobin of the National Bus and Rail Union, which is not a member of Congress but attended yesterday's meeting, said the action committee would prepare a plan of campaign "to protect public transport and put their case to members of the Oireachtas and the people".
Mr Brennan has said there could be a "summer of discontent", but he was pressing ahead with his reform plans "as set down in the Programme for Government".
All of the unions in CIÉ have balloted in favour of industrial action to oppose his plans.
