I WAS pleased to see the bishops’ statement on the Aer Lingus decision to discontinue certain services out of Shannon.

IT is estimated that during 2007 the value of Irish exports will be about €91 billion and imports will be around €64bn.

CORK City Council is to ask SIPTU for full details of the pay and conditions of staff on board the Swansea Cork Superferry following allegations of wage abuses.

THE Filipino crew of a stranded freight ship finally flew home yesterday after a month long saga which saw them stuck in Ireland over Christmas.

The Irish Ferries vessel, MV Normandy, has been diverted from Rosslare, and is now due to dock in Dublin.

Irish Ferries has claimed that the situation with the MV Normandy is now more critical because, it says, a crewman on the boat has been injured.

Ships officers on board the Irish Ferries vessel, the 'Isle of Inishmore', which is docked at Pembroke in Wales, have announced that they have secured its wheel house, as the dispute over the out-sourcing of jobs continues.

MORE than 150 passengers and as many crew remained stranded on board their grounded luxury cruise liner last night after the vessel was impounded by marine inspectors.

SIPTU and Irish Ferries are expected to engage in conciliation talks in Dublin today after an ongoing dispute left 800 passengers stranded at sea for up to eight hours yesterday.

Unions protesting at Cherbourg have denied claims by Irish Ferries that they’re blocking its ferry docking at the port.

THE country’s largest trade union has called on the Government to protect workers on Irish ships and ferries from exploitation following the case of a Filipino beautician who was hired for €1 an hour.

A DECISION by Irish Ferries to replace the Irish flag with a flag of convenience on one of its vessels was last night condemned by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).

The International Transport Workers Federation has accused Irish Ferries of denying employment rights to its staff by using a so-called "flag of convenience" on its MV Normandy vessel.

A second warrant was issued today for Irish customs officials to board a Mongolian-registered ship suspected of being involved in people trafficking.

European dock workers are to stage five days of industrial action next month in protest at what they see as the casualisation of port work.

MANAGEMENT at a ferry company last night threatened to sue union representatives who claimed workers were being paid less than €2 an hour.

Nine Russian seamen, who have been stranded in Sligo without pay for the past 10 weeks, have requested repatriation to their home country.

THE federation representing seafarers called on Defence Minister Michael Smith yesterday to buy three helicopters for the Air Corps air\sea rescue missions.

THE 60 million plan to acquire three Air Corps search and rescue helicopters will proceed next year, despite the cutbacks in this year's budget, Defence Minister Michael Smith insisted yesterday.

ACTING of behalf of seafarers, the International Transport Federation (ITF) criticised the Government's decision to cancel the 60m plans for new medium-range Air Corps helicopters in July.

The crew of a Greek shipping tanker have launched industrial action in Foynes, Co Limerick, until their employer pays them wages that have been withheld for several months.