Workers at Ardagh's Irish Glass Bottle Company in Ringsend, Dublin have been given renewed hope that their jobs may be saved.

The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) has met with both management and unions at the company to discuss the possibilities of keeping the plant operational. Ardagh announced last week that it was to close in May with the loss of 375 jobs.

In a statement last week, the company said the Ringsend operation had become increasingly uncompetitive and that, without major improvements in work practices, it had no future.

It said protracted negotiations had failed to secure the necessary improvements and that it was forced to close the plant for the good of the group.

Unions said an industrial relations process had been under way and that there had been no industrial disputes or hours lost.

The LRC said it was prepared to engage with both sides on a survival plan for the plant on the basis that all sides were prepared to engage seriously towards that end.

"This is likely to involve major cultural and work practice changes to make the plant competitive," it said.

The commission has proposed a deadline of March 29th for the negotiations.

A spokesman for Ardagh confirmed that management had met the commission earlier in the week. "The company is prepared to engage with them in a consultation process and is awaiting further communication at this stage," he said.

But the spokesman would not comment on whether the company would continue with its plans to close the plant while negotiations were ongoing.

SIPTU, the company's largest union, said it would accept the commission's invitation.

"I have a series of staff meetings over the weekend but I expect to be telling them we are going to engage in this and I'm sure they will be very supportive," said SIPTU official, Mr John Flannery.

"Hopefully, something will come out of it to save the plant because it is extremely important, naturally enough to the people with the jobs, but also to the community around Ringsend and Irishtown.

"It is also a vital link in the recycling chain for glass for the Government to meet its obligations to the EU to recycle."

Mr Flannery said he expected talks to take place early next week.