Officials from the Department met CPSU representatives on 2 April but unfortunately no basis for a settlement emerged. Initially the CPSU had advised the Department that it would regionalise the dispute into four regions but following the meeting on 2 April it advised that the officers removed from the payroll in Galway, Limerick, Mayo and Kerry would not be returning to work until the dispute was resolved. It also indicated that it would be picketing the offices involved from 3 April. Non CPSU members in the Castlebar office have also refused to pass the picket since that date.