Union urges Leinster House ushers to take Culture Night off

The union representing Leinster House ushers, whose job it is to keep order in the Oireachtas, has told its members to withdraw from work for tours scheduled to take place in the building for Culture Night on Friday.

The Oireachtas has distributed more than 1,600 tickets to the public, and Leinster House authorities insist the event will go ahead.

“From our point of view, it is full throttle ahead for Culture Night,” a spokeswoman said.

A letter from Impact to members of its parliamentary ushers branch, sent earlier this week, requested “that all members withdraw from volunteering to work on Cultural night, scheduled this Friday”.

“The request for the membership to withdraw our goodwill is not taken lightly and is most regrettable and is recommended following consultation with Assistant General secretary Mr Michael Landers,” the letter said.

Previous agreements

The letter alleges that Leinster House management has not implemented previous agreements in full.

The Leinster House authorities say there is no dispute as far as they are concerned. Sources said a much smaller cohort of ushers would be on duty for Culture Night.

The union letter claims management “have displayed a perverse interpretation of the mediated agreement and their intransigence is indeed breathtaking”.

Leinster House will be open from 5pm-11pm today to ticket holders. A statement from the Oireachtas says visitors will be given “exceptional access”.

“Guided tours will be provided on the night, which will give visitors the chance to see the historic Dáil and Seanad chambers, as well as to the home of the Oireachtas Parliamentary Committee system, located in the newer annex of Leinster House 2000.”