The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, has called on the Minister for Communications Mr Dermot Ahern to intervene immediately in the postal dispute which is threatening Christmas deliveries.
Mr Kenny said: "It is now way beyond time for the Minister to attempt to broker an acceptable settlement in a dispute which is set to have a major impact on rural communities."
He also said it was "unacceptable" to allow the dispute to drag on with Christmas just a month away.
Labour Party spokesperson on Communications, Deputy Tommy Broughan, also called on Minister Ahern to "wake from his slumber" and intervene in the dispute.
He said the Minister cannot "stand idly by and tolerate" what is going on.
"The Minister has to realise that the entire postal service is under severe threat, and he should make resolution of this dispute a priority," he added.
The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) began balloting its members today on widening its dispute following the breakdown of talks on pay and conditions with An Post yesterday. The results of the ballot are expected by Wednesday.
If a decision to take action is endorsed, the industrial action would escalate, halting work at 1,700 of the country's post offices from December 2nd. Social welfare payments will continue to be processed throughout any agreed dispute.
It is also feared industrial action could spread to urban centres.
Talks aimed at resolving the postmasters dispute, which is disrupting rural mail deliveries, ended without resolution yesterday evening.
The dispute is affecting some 520 post offices around the State and is over a range of pay issues including the failure to secure a 1 per cent increase under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Workers from about 225 post offices began sorting mail from their homes two weeks ago after the IPU said members would close rural sorting offices every Monday and Friday to pursue their claim.
