Transport Minister urges both sides of Dublin bus strike to talk it out
The Transport Minister is appealing to both sides in the bus dispute to enter last minute talks.
Dublin Bus services are due to finish at 9pm this evening.
It's ahead of a two day strike over pay.
Minister Shane Ross called on unions and management to try to avert the strike: “What I'm doing at the moment is that I am going to appeal to both sides at the 11th hour, to get talking again.
“I think the only way that this strike can be sorted is if the two sides get together across the table again and discuss a settlement.
“The Government is not going to be a soft touch for either management or unions and people shouldn't think that they would be.”
Dublin Bus has said strikes at the company will cost them more than €600,000 a day in lost fares and revenue.
400,000 people use Dublin Bus every day.
Bus services will end at 9pm tonight - three hours before the start of the 48 hour strike.
Unions have said the company is not willing to negotiate, while Dublin Bus claim they can not afford the pay rises drivers want.
Spokesperson for Dublin Bus Clíona Ní Fhátharta has said the company stands to lose a lot of money.
Unions at Dublin Bus are calling on the Transport Minister to take a proactive approach to the dispute at the company, ahead of a 48 hour drivers strike.
Dublin Bus says services will finish at 9pm tonight, three hours before the start of the strike.
Unions claim the move by the company indicates it is not ready to negotiate.
Drivers are seeking pay parity with Luas staff.
Dermot O'Leary of the NBRU wants Minister Shane Ross to take a more hands-on approach to the dispute: "We find it quite extraordinary as well that the Minister despite urgings from opposition TDs, despite urgings from the trade union side and despite every commentator that is watching the dispute, asking the same question of the Minister, has he a role to play."
