20 days of bus strikes, 2 sides at odds, 1 minister in a boa

Transport Minister Shane Ross has been criticised for being pictured draped in a feather boa with former Miss Ireland, Amanda Brunker, while talks to end weeks of crippling strikes at Bus Éireann were ongoing.

Commuters this morning face a 20th day without bus services as the dispute has now moved to the Labour Court after the Workplace Relations Commission was unable to find a resolution between unions and management despite marathon talks over the weekend.

The sides reconvene in court this morning in the hope it will be able to put together a non-binding recommendation within 24 hours that unions can put to their members for ballot. One of the key parts of that recommendation will be on a consolidated rate of pay for drivers.