The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, has defended the introduction of a new five-day week for train-drivers, following criticism by the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association that it constitutes a health risk to both staff and passengers.
The ILDA has written to the Minister and the Health and Safety Authority seeking a review of the new work practices.
A spokesman for Ms O'Rourke said yesterday that the new package provided significant increases in basic pay that would allow drivers to work five rather than seven days a week. Under the new contracts drivers would work between 39 hours and 48 hours. Currently they could be working over 60 hours a week.