A four-hour work stoppage by bus and rail workers in protest at Government plans to break up CIE has ended without anticipated traffic disruption as normal services on both bus and rail services have almost fully resumed.
Rush-hour traffic in Dublin city centre is moving slowly but there are no reports fo any disruption caused by today's industrial action.
Commuters using rail and DART services are experiencing some dealys and certain services ahve been cancelled.Dublin Bus resumed full service this afternoon, wihtout any reported problems.
Bus and rail services to Dublin, Cork, Kerry, and Galway as well as all city and suburban services were disrupted by today's action. Sligo and Limerick were also been affected.
The largest demonstration took place in Dublin with more than a thousand placard-carrying marchers taking part.
The march, which started in Parnell Square, wound its way down O'Connell Street, and on to the Department of Transport in Kildare Street where a letter of protest was deliverrd. It then headed for Heuston Station for a rally.
Today's action went ahead despite an appeal last night from the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who asked the unions not to hold a stoppage but to engage in talks with the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.
The National Bus and Railworkers' Union (NBRU), which along with SIPTU, represents the drivers, apologised for the inconvenience but said it had no alternative due to Mr Brennan's failure to consult with them before restructuring. The issue of awarding licences to private bus operators is also causing the unions concern.
The general secretary of the NBRU Mr Liam Tobin described a last-minute call by the Minister for them to abandon today's protest and enter talks as "cynical".
He pointed out the union deferred taking action after the Minister said he would invite them to talks on December 10th, last year.
No invitation followed although Mr Brennan continued to issue licences to private operators without consulting unions, Mr Tobin said.
Mr Brennan has already promised no jobs will be lost during the restructuring.
Passengers seeking further information about Íarnród Éireann and DART services can contact 1850-366-222 or visit www.irishrail.ie, where updates will be available.