Brennan offers to meet transport unions

The Minister for Transport, Mr Séamus Brennan, has renewed his offer to meet the public transport workers involved in tomorrow's proposed protest.

"Reform of public transport can be implemented in a spirit of partnership and consultation," Mr Brennan said.

"I do not want confrontation but I do want change," he added.

Mr Brennan's invitation comes ahead of tomorrow's proposed protest which will see around 3,000 drivers across the country stopping work and holding marches between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The drivers are protesting that they have not been consulted about at plans to break-up CIÉ.

Mr Brennan called the protest "regrettable" and asked the unions to reconsider their action.

Fine Gael's spokesperson on transport Mr Denis Naughton urged the Minister to take action to avert the protest.

He called on the Mininster to invoke the 1990 Industrial Relations Act to stop the protest going ahead. Under the Act, industrial action can be prevented when a bona fide trade dispute does not exist.

"Congestion is the biggest problem affecting transport services but the Minister has done nothing to tackle this. Neither deregulation nor competition elements will eradicate congestion, without political will," Mr Naughton said.

Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann are warning passengers to expect severe disruption to their services tomorrow due to the protest.

The companies do not expect to be able to operate services during the four-hour protest.

Dublin Bus, Expressway, DART and Intercity services will all be affected. There will also be a knock-on affect to services throughout the day.

Customers are advised to contact local Bus Éireann offices for further information on Expressway routes.

Meanwhile, the Dublin City Business Association (DCBA) has called the protest "unwise and unacceptable".

"Groups either in business or trade unions who lobby to prevent change, maintain monopolies or prevent the introduction of competition in the market do not serve their members' real interests," the DCBA said in a statement today.