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Updated 6.30pm
TRANSPORT MINISTER PASCHAL Donohoe has issued a strongly-worded statement criticising unions the NBRU and SIPTU for their stance on the privatisation of some bus routes.
The National Bus and Rail Union confirmed earlier it would hold a day of industrial action over plans to put 10% of existing bus routes out to private tender.
A two-hour march to the Dáil will take place in Dublin on 1 May – International Workers Day – with other protests taking place in cities across the country. More widespread work stoppages could also take place.
More than 90% of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann workers with the union voted in favour of the action.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One this evening, NBRU General Secretary said disruption for commuters would be kept to a minimum on 1 May – which is the Friday before a bank holiday weekend.
He said the march would only take drivers away from their jobs for around two hours in most areas – and that rush hour services wouldn’t be affected.
Last Friday, SIPTU drivers at the two companies voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. Drivers are concerned that any privatisation would lead to job losses at the semi-state companies.
“It is disappointing that the NBRU and SIPTU withdrew from discussions being facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission,” Donohoe said.
“These discussions had been aimed at addressing employee concerns about how the tendering of 10% of routes might impact them and were making significant progress.
“There was particular focus on facilitating the vast majority of employees to remain in either Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann if either company did not succeed in the tendering process.
This was on the basis of growth in bus frequencies on the routes remaining with Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.
He said the talks were also focused on protecting the terms and conditions of any employees who do transfer to other operators.
Additional reporting, Daragh Brophy.
Guess what, Jeremy – it’s your fault.
In fairness he did say exactly that.
Yes, on Dave and Dave +1 three times a day for the next 14 years
Great show bit of silliness in a other world full of political correctness sorry to see it go even if Clarkson was a bit of an Ass
You’d probably not say the same thing if someone who was ‘a bit of an ass ‘ at your work punched another co-worker and got away with it. The fact that this muppet got so many warnings and second chances makes it even worse.
Don’t forget he didn’t just hit the guy he made racist comments too. I don’t get why so many Irish fans don’t have an issue with this
Because it’s ok to be racist when it’s just us lads having a bit of BANTER
When you are hitting the person at same time it isn’t banter
You need to turn on your irony sensors
God be the days when men were men and if another man hit you, you hit him back! Nowadays the world is full of weasels who go running at the first sign of trouble.
He wasn’t kicked off sooner because he was making the BBC tons of cash. At least the muppet is gone now. Just a pity it had to even come to this. He should have been let go sooner, before he assaulted someone.
I will miss the Christmas specials !
Top gear was a unique show really gonna miss it .
Yawn……….
Monday morning, huh? I hear ya.
Chris Evans will drive the final nail into top gears coffin, it’ll be limp dull and PC .
The original Top Gear died of death when Jeremy left in 1998 hence the BBC revamped it, brought Jezza back & the ratings boomed. This time, the fall in ratings will be much greater & it’ll be interesting to see how BBC could revamp Top Gear if the Chris Evans era goes to the dogs.
Why who did this insufferable pr i ck assault in 1998? Oisin Tymon should wait a few months and then sue the ignorant, pubic-headed gobdaw….
This episode should never have aired. A great show like this does not deserve no studio audience and two depressed guys going through the motions.
Funniest part was when Clarkson yelled out “I hate working on Top Gear!!”. You got your wish Jeremy.
funniest was Clarkson on his leisure boat when the wind cough the sails “Hammond, I’m going a million!!!” the genuine terror in his face was priceless.
Me and my four kids really looked forward to Sundays at 8 for an hour of silliness and cars… https://youtu.be/gqn-nnL7FZc
Ditto.
can not WAIT for this trio’s very own car show to appear on netflix hurry upppppp! :)
there is a difference between saying I’m so sorry it ended this way and what he actually said ‘so sad and sorry it ended like this’. he punched another man in the face without good reason and still doesn’t accept it was entirely his fault.
Anybody know if there’s a repeat?
@ Anthony – constantly, I reckon..
Ok. Anybody know if it’ll be on BBC again this week? As in, the traditional repeat.
Yep, Saturday night on BBC2.
On Dave, continuously
On the bbc iplayer I’d say get a vpn and good to go
Install the Hola plugin for Chrome, and watch it on iplayer. Sometimes you need to refresh it if it doesn’t load first time.
Jeremy you had it all and blew it all away
Until the 3 lads and an ex racing driver (moustached lad from Birmingham), turn up on Netflix!
3 morons
Yawn. It was well past its sell-by date.
Tosspot can’t bare him
Jeremy Clarkson is an utter idiot. Good riddance.
3 middle class brit twits
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