Unofficial industrial action by Irish Rail train drivers based in Cork and Dublin's Heuston Station has led to disruption of services around the country.
All services out of Cork's Kent station have been suspended, and there is only a limited inter-city service from Heuston, although there are no trains running to Cork. All Kildare suburban services have been suspended until further notice.
A number of drivers took the action this morning in protest at the introduction of a new fleet of intercity trains.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the situation was disappointing, particularly in light of the investments being made in the rail network.
"If there are industrial relations issues this is not the way to do business," said Mr Ahern. "There is extensive industrial relations machinery in place to sort out this kind of thing, which has caused major disruption to passengers on a wet Monday morning."
Iarnród Éireann is advising passengers on train services departing Cork or Dublin's Heuston Station "where possible to make alternative travel arrangements."
There are no services running between Dublin and Cork, Tralee and Limerick while Kildare and Portlaoise commuter services have been cancelled. There are limited trains running between Heuston and Waterford, Galway and Westport.
All services to and from Cork have been cancelled.
Drivers submitted a claim last September 2005 for increased pay and reduced working hours in return for driving the new trains because of a new safety regime and new training processes for new drivers.
The claim was rejected by the Labour Court in January who said the new working arrangements were allowed for in previous agreements.
Iarnród Éireann was due to begin trials today on €117 million worth of new trains aimed at improving the service on the Cork to Dublin route.
In a statement issued this morning Iarnród Éireann said: "Drivers are attempting to use a matter that the Labour Court has definitively ruled on in January, and use service improvements to customers, as leverage to secure concessions on completely separate issues. This is all the more unacceptable given the company's commitment to progress these issues substantively.
"The resolution of this dispute is in the hands of the drivers, who are currently taking this unofficial action and Iarnród Éireann has called on them to return to work and ensure that our customers are not further inconvenienced."
Rail users group Platform 11 criticised Iarnród Éireann for not addressing the industrial relations issues sooner. "Once again rail customers have been left in limbo, and Platform 11 are most disappointed that . . . Iarnrod Éireann failed to keep the public informed and insisted of putting a train into service in the full knowledge that an industrial relations problem exists."
Progressive Democrats Transport Spokesman Senator Tom Morrissey called on the drivers to return to the industrial relations process.
"An immediate solution must be found to the dispute which has resulted in the cancellation of trains without warning. Such an unofficial strike cannot be justified," he said.
"They must bear in mind that their action presents a serious inconvenience to commuters and, if it is allowed to escalate, will have a serious knock-on impact on the wider economy."
Further information is available from the Iarnród Éireann Information Line 1850-366222 or on the company's website www.irishrail.ie.