The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, has appealed to the transport unions not to go ahead with industrial action on Monday.
Speaking in Kiltimagh,Co Mayo, where he established a new working group to examine the western rail corridor, the Minister said: "There is absolutely no need for it. I would ask the National Bus and Rail Union to call it off.
"We agreed two weeks ago on a way forward, to appoint an independent chairman for the talks. That is happening. There is no reason for the strike at all."
The Minister added: "I am not talking about privatising any of the CIÉ companies. I am talking about what happened in most other EU countries, opening up the markets. If I do not do that the EU will not be long doing it in a couple of years or the Irish courts will not be long doing it, like they did with the taxis."
The Minister said that he was "keen" to get into talks with the unions and was looking forward "to getting down to them with some urgency."