Government faces crisis as Irish Ferries snubs court

THE PROSPECT of a complete disintegration of Social Partnership increased dramatically last night as Irish Ferries refused to attend Labour Court talks despite a Government request to do so.

The refusal comes just a day after Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the company’s plan to replace 543 Irish workers with cheaper foreign staff was unacceptable, deplorable and against the spirit of Social Partnership.

Describing the spiralling dispute as the worst crisis of the 18-year history of the partnership process, SIPTU president Jack O’Connor said there was an increasing mood that Social Partnership - which is frequently credited as a crucial part of Ireland’s economic success - could not survive.