SIPTU transport rift widens as Ahern backs Harney stance

THE rift between the Government and SIPTU over Tánaiste Mary Harney’s controversial weekend remarks on transport reform moved no closer to being resolved yesterday.

Speaking in the Dáil, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern while saying he understood the reaction of the country's biggest union to Ms Harney's views at the same time strongly backed her assertion that the break up of Aer Rianta and the liberalisation of bus routes were part of the agreed programme for government.

SIPTU had been particularly exercised by the fact that the Tánaiste made no mention of the rights of workers in Aer Rianta or in Dublin Bus during the course of the comments.