Irish Ferries have said they have no knowledge of any initiative to break the deadlock in the dispute over replacing more than 500 Irish workers with staff from overseas.
Last night, a source close to talks involving the National Implementation Body said the employers' group IBEC and the Congress of Trade Unions were continuing exploratory discussions with both sides.
The dispute worsened on Monday when the company rejected a Labour Court recommendation vetoing its plan to replace around 550 Irish workers with cheaper agency staff from overseas.
