Mid ranking civil servants have voted overwhelmingly to continue talks aimed at merging three civil service unions into one larger union.
The Public Service Executive Union represents around 10,000 civil servants.
However, the union has been engaged in negotiations on merging with the Civil Public and Services Union and Impact with a view to forming a more powerful entity that would have greater bargaining power in negotiations on pay and conditions in a project known as the New Union Project.
The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants and the Veterinary Officers Association have withdrawn from talks on the merger.
Some delegates raised concerns that the merger could see their influence diminished - but were told that the new union would have a number of semi-autonomous units, including one for civil servants which would decide.
General Secretary Tom Geraghty acknowledged that small organisations did have certain benefits including access - but warned that they would remain a small player in the field, at a time when pay bargaining with the government was becoming increasingly centralised.
Delegates were told the decision on a merger would ultimately be made by all members, not just by the delegates at the annual conference.
