Eircom suitor Babcock & Brown has indicated its willingness to meet the company's staff after unions in the telco criticised the Australian investment fund for its failure to contact them about its plans for the group.

However, a spokesman for the fund said that such contacts could only be made at an "appropriate time".

There was no comment from Eircom last night after a board meeting at which the question of due diligence access for the Australian investment fund was discussed.

In advance of due diligence, there has been no formal dialogue between Babcock & Brown and the worker-controlled trust in Eircom that owns 21.5 per cent of the group.

Together their stakes amount to 50.3 per cent of Eircom between them so they would be seen to be acting in concert if they were to hold talks at this stage of the process.

The Communications Workers' Union, Impact, the Public Service Executive Union and the Civil & Public Service Union said in a joint statement that they "noted with concern" speculation on a possible takeover by the Australians and said they should move immediately to involve unions in the process.

"In particular, the group has noted comments by the company that, if successful in its takeover approach, it will proceed to dismantle the company," it said.

"Given the potential impact any such deal would have on Eircom's employees, the group finds it regrettable that no similar meeting was sought with the trade union group representing Eircom employees," the statement added.

Babcock & Brown's spokesman said: "We do plan to meet with them at an appropriate time.