SIPTU was encouraged yesterday by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, to return to talks on a new national pay agreement, due to restart after Easter.
The State's largest union pulled out of the talks this week after Ms Harney said the Progressive Democrats' participation in the Government would be in doubt if plans to break up Aer Rianta and liberalise bus routes did not proceed. She stood over the comments yesterday, saying she had merely restated commitments in the Programme for Government.
It was up to SIPTU to decide what it wanted to do, but she would like to see them involved in the pay talks. "I don't think anyone achieves anything by walking out of the talks. I think you achieve more when you talk and have discussions than the alternative."
SIPTU leaders were last night considering the situation, but they are not under pressure to make a quick decision. The pay talks, on an 18-month deal to cover the second half of the three-year Sustaining Progress partnership agreement, are due to get under way in mid-April, but could continue until well into May.
The union's participation is likely to depend on the attitude displayed by the Government in two other sets of talks currently under way, concerning the futures of Aer Rianta and CIÉ.
Ms Harney told reporters she did not believe there was anything wrong with the timing of her comments.
"The Government have made a decision in relation to the airports. It's not just a question of a commitment in the Programme for Government, we actually have a Cabinet decision. Legislation is being drafted and, as I understand it, is about to come before the Government.
" If it's unfortunate to reiterate what is Government policy, then I think we would have got to a very sorry state of affairs indeed." She said she did not believe her comments negated the assurances the Taoiseach had given to the trade unions on the issue.
"I believe that the changes that are envisaged by the Programme for Government will increase employment and transport and deliver higher quality services."
She said she had never mentioned the idea of privatisation. What was important was the introduction of competition "because that's what drives economic activity and that's what improves services, that's what delivers better value for money both for the employees and the travelling public".
Breaking up Aer Rianta would mean giving autonomy to its three component airports, she said. The Government had also agreed to provide a second terminal at Dublin Airport to provide competition within the sector in Dublin. "This is about boosting tourism, boosting employment and boosting regional development."
The Programme for Government promised legislation to allow new services in the bus market. It did not promise the break-up of Aer Rianta, but it did promise greater autonomy for Cork and Shannon airports.
It also promised the building of a facility for low-cost airlines at Dublin Airport, and to act on proposals for a new independent terminal at Dublin "if the evidence suggests that such a terminal will deliver significant benefits".