CIE to hold public meeting on break-up plan

CIÉ unions are to hold a public meeting in Dublin tonight to outline their opposition to Government plans to break-up the company.

A union spokesman told ireland.comthe meeting was designed "to put our case to the public".

The meeting follows last week's "No Fares Day" protest and comes ahead of a number of planned work stoppages in opposition to the planned restucturing.

The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, is proposing the company be broken into three separate entities and that 25 per cent of Dublin's bus market be franchised out to private operators by next January.

Unions oppose the move saying it will result in large-scale job losses and the curtailment of vital services.

Speakers from the three main CIE unions, ATGWU, NBRU and SIPTU will address the meeting and explain in more detail what they believe will be the consequences of the move.

The unions have invited Mr Brennan to attend tonight's meeting in Liberty Hall but as yet he has failed to indicate if he will.