Informal contacts are likely to be opened this week to see if a negotiation process can be agreed which could resolve the dispute over the eviction of a Co Waterford farm family, the Murphys, by the Irish Nationwide Building Society.
A spokesman said yesterday that INBS officers "are available at any time" to discuss matters with the Murphys or their authorised representatives. Any proposals would be listened to and assessed in detail immediately.
Members of the family and of a support committee set up by the local community continued to keep a vigil over the weekend at the farm. They have been using as shelter a small caravan which was towed into position outside the farm gates.
A relation of the Murphys said yesterday that "the situation has been defused considerably". The number of security guards occupying the property has been reduced to one and a stockman working for the family is allowed on to the farm to milk and feed the Murphys' herd, which remains on the land.
Some confusion over the IFA's role in the matter may be resolved today. The IFA president, Mr John Donnelly, had told INBS managing director, Mr Michael Fingleton, that the family would have to be reinstated in their home immediately, but the society asserted that "the laying down of preconditions" before discussions took place was "unhelpful".
The INBS has indicated that it does not know if Mr Donnelly is acting as an authorised representative of the family in making this request. The matter is likely to be clarified today in contacts between the IFA and the family's legal and financial advisers.
It now appears that the Murphy's herd of 170 beasts will be left on the farm, and tended to there, until substantive negotiations on the disputed debt take place.
Because of surcharges and legal costs, a balance of £198,000 is understood to be still outstanding on a loan of about £70,000 granted by the INBS to the late Mr Milo Murphy in 1989. If direct negotiations open this week, the aim will be to agree a compromise settlement.