The county's largest union, SIPTU, will hold a special delegate conference on January 31 to decide whether or not to enter negotiations on a new social partnership agreement.
SIPTU's national executive decided this morning to recommend re-entering talks after receiving indications from the Government that the key issue of employment standards would be prioritised ahead of matters relating to pay.
The move increases the likelihood that talks on a seventh partnership deal could get underway early next month.
