The National Bus & Rail Union has accepted an invitation to talks at the Labour Relations Commission aimed at resolving the row over plans to privatise some bus services.

Irish Rail has confirmed that it will implement pay cuts later this month, despite objections from unions.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said that he would rather see Bus Éireann workers go back on strike than reach an agreement that fails to deliver savings.

Strike action at Bus Éireann could escalate to include other semi-state transport firms, a union spokesman has warned today.

UNIONS yesterday said the reason for the wildcat strikes was the annoyance among drivers over the slow progress of talks with Iarnród Éireann, which have so far taken two-and-a-half years.