Iarnrod threat `a diversion' - Ogle

The Irish Locomotive Train Drivers' Association (ILDA) has described Iarnrod Eireann's threat to pursue it for £5 million in costs associated with the six-week drivers' dispute as a diversionary tactic.

Mr Brendan Ogle, executive secretary of the ILDA, claimed the court move is designed to divert attention from the union's claims that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment had formed the opinion that the ILDA was a legitimate body for the purposes of negotiations.

Iarnrod Eireann has argued it cannot negotiate with the ILDA because it is not an accredited body for the purpose of negotiations. However, Mr Ogle insists that documents he has obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment showed the Department believed such negotiations would be legitimate.

The ILDA will this morning tell members of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport there is nothing precluding negotiations. Information packs will be distributed to members of the committee, which is meeting to discuss the closure of the IFI fertiliser plant at Arklow in Co Wicklow, as a result of the dispute.

Mr Ogle said he had invited Iarnrod Eireann to take his union to court if they had done anything actionable. "The company has taken this action to hide the information which we have received from the Department, which shows the company is not precluded from negotiating with us," he said.

Meanwhile, Iarnrod Eireann has announced that services today to Waterford and Westport will be the worst affected by the dispute. There will be six services from Dublin to Cork, with five returning; four services from Dublin to Tralee, with two returning; eight services to and from Limerick, five to and from Galway and two from Dublin to Westport returning. There will be just two from Dublin to Waterford, with three services each way between Dublin and Sligo. The Dublin to Rosslare and Dublin to Belfast services operate normally.

Iarnrod Eireann has advised passengers to consult its information line on 1 850 366222.