Talks at the Labour Court aimed at resolving a dispute involving retained firefighters have concluded.
Speaking as she left the talks, SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Karan O Loughlin said: "We don't have an outcome today".
She said: "I've said from the beginning that the resolution to this dispute is going to be complicated and difficult, so the courts are now going to take a number of days to consider what both parties have said to them.
"Their intention is to try to issue a recommendation that has the best possibility for resolving the dispute, so we'll await that recommendation."
Ms O Loughlin said the union has put its "faith in this process" and it was "safe to say that the negotiating committee for the retained fire service have left nothing unsaid at this particular set of hearings".
Members of the service engaged in rolling work stoppages earlier this month and had threatened to escalate the action to an all-out strike last week in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Exploratory talks were held at the Labour Court last week and a formal hearing took place today.
SIPTU has agreed at the request of the Labour Court to maintain a suspension of strike action to allow for talks.
A deescalated, lower form of industrial action has remained in place which involves retained firefighters refusing to engage in training exercises.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien has said he supports a pay rise for retained firefighters but believes the correct way to achieve this is through the next round of public sector pay talks which are due to start in the coming weeks.
Members of the retained service are part-time firefighters who are paid an annual retainer to be available for callouts.
SIPTU represents around 2,000 retained firefighters across 200 stations around the country.
The union said there is a recruitment and retention crisis in the service meaning that many firefighters are unable to take their leave entitlements due to staff shortages.
They have also seen their incomes drastically reduced due to reductions in call-outs over the last number of years.
Additional reporting Laura Fletcher
