Workers at Tara Mines Ltd in Navan have voted by a 6:1 majority to take industrial action against the company in a dispute about changed rostering and welfare issues.
The miners, who are all SIPTU members working underground at the Navan mine, are refusing a company proposal to introduce a seven-day roster, which, they complain, would affect weekend and overtime working and pay levels.
SIPTU's Meath branch secretary, Mr John Regan, said the miners believed they could achieve the extra tonnages required by the company through voluntary overtime work.
Clare will not host Lisdoonvarna festival
Clare tourism operators are to miss out again this year on the financial benefits of the Lisdoonvarna music festival, which, for the second consecutive year, is to take place outside the county.
The one-day event took place in the RDS, Dublin, last year, following objections by locals to planning permission for the concert.
Local promoter Mr Jim Shannon said yesterday the festival would not take place in Clare this year. Details of the venue are to be announced in the next few months.
Drink-driver in Garda chase jailed
A drink-driver who led gardaí on a 100 m.p.h. chase across three counties, covering 73 miles, was jailed for a year yesterday.
The midnight chase through counties Laois, Kilkenny and Tipperary ended only when the culprit ran out of petrol.
At Urlingford District Court, Patrick Hamilton of Gathabawn, Co Kilkenny, admitted drink-driving, having no insurance, and seven counts of dangerous driving.
Supt Tony Cogan said Hamilton sped away from a Garda checkpoint at Loughatalla, Thurles, at 12.15 a.m. on August 12th, 2002.
His Toyota Carina reached speeds of between 80 and 100 m.p.h. on the main Dublin-to-Cork road and a series of narrow country roads.