Waste dispute threatens culture festival

CRISIS talks between Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and union leaders take place at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) today in an attempt to resolve a waste collection dispute threatening to disrupt the country’s premier multicultural festival this weekend.

The annual World Culture of Festivals attracts more than a quarter of a million people to Dún Laoghaire, with this year’s event featuring 800 artists from 30 countries.

However, a strike by refuse collectors protesting against plans to outsource their work may mean major disruption which could spread to South County Dublin, Fingal and Dublin city.