Shop stewards for striking scaffolders last night narrowly agreed to lift their unofficial pickets to allow for talks at the Labour Relations Commission.
Earlier, the LRC had written to their trade union, SIPTU, to say talks could not be held while unofficial action was taking place and asking the union to convey this to the strikers.
A meeting of nearly 40 shop stewards was urged by their branch secretary, Mr Eric Fleming, to lift the pickets so that talks with the Construction Industry Federation could go ahead today.
The scaffolders are seeking a pay increase, health and safety measures, improved training and a registration system.
Mr Fleming said he had been given the impression by the CIF that "something can be done" at the talks, and this had helped to secure agreement at the meeting to lift the pickets.
He said lay-offs by building firms in Dublin yesterday had angered shop stewards and made it more difficult to get agreement last night.
Earlier in the day, the CIF had complained of intimidation of drivers delivering materials to sites and said this would lead to further lay-offs.
Mr Fleming described these allegations as "mistruths".
The CIF said last night that it would attend the talks this morning.
Lay-offs in Dublin yesterday included the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in Clondalkin. Neither SIPTU nor the CIF could give figures for the number of people laid off altogether.
During the day the war of words between the CIF and SIPTU had grown more heated.
In addition to the charge of intimidation, the CIF had accused SIPTU of "posturing" when it said it wanted talks to go ahead.
SIPTU accused the CIF of engaging in "dangerous activity" by advising its members to issue protective notice.