A closed session of the central executive council of the ASTI has adjourned this evening, with no final decision on whether a review should be staged of general secretary Mr Charlie Lennon's role and performance.
Following a day-long private Central Executive Council meeting the anti-Lennon members prevailed in a narrow vote 76 tp 72 in favour of returning to the issue at a later.
Concern with the performance of Mr Lennon came to the fore amid unruly scenes yesterday evening at the ASTI conference in Limerick. An emergency motion calling for the review, which was not on the original agenda, was tabled.
The Central Executive Council spent today debating whether or not a motion discussing Mr Lennon's continued role as general secretary could be put to the floor.
While Mr Lennon agreed to such a review, he told the meeting that he would not consent to one along the lines suggested by delegates at the conference the previous day.
Afterwards, ASTI President Mr PJ Sheehy, told the meeting that his legal advice indicated that a motion on Mr Lennon's performance could not be put to the floor.
It has been suggested that any such review would take place in an independent manner, and be conducted outside of the organisation.
The call for a review of the general secretary's performance has been seen by some as a putsch attempt on the part of those within the association who blame Mr Lennon for the failure to achieve a 30 per cent pay increase.
Deep divisions are reported between the Lennon faction and those supporting former President Ms Bernadine O'Sullivan, one of the main driving forces behind the 30 per cent pay hike campaign.