The Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke, has told the Dáil there's no prospect of the State's industrial relations machinery getting involved in the dispute between Iarnród Éireann and the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association. Speaking in the Dáil, she said Iarnród Éireann were not prepared to negotiate with the ILDA because they felt to do so would be unlawful, following a recent High Court ruling. She called on the drivers involved to re-examine the deal and consider the damage they were causing to the image of the railway.
Iarnród Éireann has warned of further disruption to Intercity services today because of the unofficial industrial action being taken by the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association, the ILDA. The company says that there will be reduced services on lines to and from the South and West, though the service between Limerick and Dublin will be better than yesterday. Members of the ILDA are opposed to a new agreement on pay and work practices, which has already been accepted by SIPTU and the NBRU. Thousands of train passengers were forced to make alternative arrangements yesterday because of the dispute.
There are widespread cancellations on the Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford to Dublin lines and on Drogheda and Dundalk suburban services. For intending passengers the customer information helpline is 1850-366222.
No trains are expected to operate on the Kildare Arrow service before lunch time tomorrow.
