Bord na Móna has reversed its decision to lay off 70 permanent staff in the midlands, according to Siptu.

An impasse between the ESB and the Environmental Protection Agency that has led to the suspension of operations at a power plant in Longford could lead to industrial action by Bord na Móna employees, unions are warning.

An inquest into the death of a former Bord na Mona employee, who died from an asbestos-related cancer, heard claims today the deceased was exposed to asbestos while working at one of the company’s briquette factories over 50 years ago.

Former President of Ireland and climate justice campaigner Mary Robinson has criticised Bord na Mona for not being ambitious enough in its deadline for shutting down peat production.

There are fears for up to a thousand jobs in the midlands.

State-owned forestry company Coillte has received “very significant interest” in its windfarm properties, which it effectively put up for sale last month, and is confident of achieving its stated price target of €125m for the assets.

There are few things more virtual, more imagined, than our connection with the natural world and the ecosystems that sustain all life on this increasingly over-stretched, tottering planet.

"We don't want to have to pull that trigger (to strike), but if we do…Bórd na Móna don’t tend to engage meaningfully and if that's their approach on this one then yes, it's going to end up in a dispute."

The Bord na Móna group of unions says it “does not accept” the decision by the company to close its peat briquette plant in Littleton, Co Tipperary, which will lead to the loss of 69 jobs, writes Stephen Rogers.

The Bord na Móna group of unions says it “does not accept” the decision by the company to close its peat briquette plant in Littleton, Co Tipperary, which will lead to the loss of 69 jobs.

LATEST: Unions have criticised Bord na Mona management following the announcment that the Littleton peat briquette plant is to close with the loss of 69 jobs.

140 jobs at Bord na Móna are in doubt as the board of the company meets this morning.

ESB and Bord na Móna have announced a deal to develop four solar farms across the Midlands to power 150,000 homes.

SIPTU transport workers at Bord Na Mona are to take strike action over pay cuts.

Workers in Bórd na Móna have voted in favour of a pay deal brokered by the Workplace Relations Commission.

A suspect has been identified in the suicide bomb attack which killed 32 people on Turkey’s border with Syria; Solicitor tried to defraud Revenue by underpaying €147,000 stamp duty due on a property transaction; Bord na Móna plans to build a pilot solar energy farm in Offaly next year. Here’s this evening’s irishexaminer.com round-up.

Bord na Móna plans to build a pilot solar energy farm in Offaly next year and is currently in talks with a number of potential development partners with the view to gaining a foothold in the burgeoning subsector of the new energy market.

The public is being urged to be on the alert for wildfires, with the risk of outbreaks deemed high for the coming days due to dry weather.