Around 25 maintenance workers have begun strike action at Dublin Port this morning following the breakdown of talks last night aimed at averting the stoppage.

SIPTU has served two weeks' strike notice on Irish Ferries as a result of the company's plans to replace workers on its Irish Sea routes with cheaper labour from abroad.

The Minister for the Marine, Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher, has said that he is extremely disappointed that Irish Ferries is seeking 543 redundancies from its staff on Irish Sea routes.

Talks at the Labour Relations Commission on a cost-cutting deal for Irish Ferries have concluded with an agreement to recommence talks next week.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was up 61.35 points on Monday to close at 5187.34.