The transfer of 147 traffic wardens from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to Dublin Corporation, which was due to take place today, has been deferred indefinitely, writes Padraig Yeates. The decision follows representations to the Government from several TDs, including Ms Nora Owen of Fine Gael and Mr Pat Rabbitte of Labour, as well as the vice-president of SIPTU, Mr Des Geraghty.
Ms Liz Daly, a spokeswoman for the traffic wardens, said yesterday they had been told by the Department that the postponement was "for administrative reasons". She said this confirmed their own view that the transfer had not been thought through.
SIPTU official Mr Des Hughes said a conciliation conference was to be held at the Labour Relations Commission next Tuesday "to address the bureaucratic quagmire into which the wardens have been dragged". IMPACT official Mr Tom Brady said the union suspected the corporation of wanting to privatise traffic management.