Transport union leaders have told the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, that they are prepared to enter intensive negotiations to resolve the pending series of disputes at Iarnrod Eireann. However, there is little likelihood of averting next week's disruption.
DART drivers are due to strike on Monday and signallers on Wednesday and Thursday.
The company's subvention is to increase from £115 million to £159 million this year, of which about £12 million is due to the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association dispute last summer. Most of the rest is to meet the cost of pay increases, including agreements reached with other mainline train drivers and 800 track repair and inspection staff.
Ms O'Rourke met the union delegation for about two hours yesterday.
Afterwards the assistant general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr Tom Wall, said the Minister had expressed her concern about the continuing high level of industrial unrest in Iarnrod Eireann, especially given the extra investment being made in the company.
"She asked us what the trade union position was and she was told the unions were committed to resolving the disputes. Also that the unions were willing to enter intensified negotiations in relation to the signals and DART," Mr Wall said.