A meeting today between the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, and bus and rail unions will determine whether commuters face further transport disruption in the row over privatisation.
The "head-to-head" meeting, starting at 11.30 a.m. is the fourth between the Minister and the unions, who oppose Mr Brennan's plans to reform public transport and, in particular, his intention to privatise 25 per cent of Dublin's bus market this year.
Unions are angry at what they see as the Minister's "big announcements and soundbyte statements", which they claim are without substance on the detail of privatisation. Mr Brennan has said that his privatisation plans are less radical than those of the previous Government.
However, the unions have pointed to their ongoing mandate for strike action unless the Minister agrees to a genuine process of negotiations. They have also insisted that the Minister halt the "practice of handing routes to private operators without telling anyone", said a spokesman.
The key issue is - how much privatisation and how will it be structured?
Meanwhile, striking train drivers at Westport, Co Mayo say they are not prepared to accept a Labour Court review of their grievances, writes Tom Shiel in Castlebar.
In a joint statement from the SIPTU & ATGWU Train Drivers representing the six drivers, they claim the matter had been referred to the Labour Court against their "express wishes". The unofficial action on Friday affected up to 2,000 intending rail passengers on the Westport-Dublin route. The drivers claim they had to take action because they are the only drivers in the country who have not been paid an award which was approved two-and-a-half years ago.