Call for minister to intervene as unofficial picket halts rail work

BUSINESS leaders have called on the Transport Minister to intervene in a dispute that has resulted in an unofficial picket holding up work on the €105 million Cork-Midleton commuter rail line.

Yesterday, for the seventh day in a row, pickets prevented track laying taking place when they blocked the entrance to the site near Glounthaune.

The row centres on who has responsibility for laying the track. The company’s line inspection staff are furious that an outside contractor and Iarnród Éireann’s new works department were assigned the job.