Redundancy protests disrupt traffic nationwide

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of towns and cities across Ireland today to support a national day of protest over statutory redundancies.

The action was organised by four of the country’s largest trade unions, representing more than 250,000 workers, in a bid to increase the level of statutory redundancy payouts made to workers.

It came after a number of companies refused to make redundancy payments to workers, which were recommended by the Labour Court in Dublin.

Protests took place in Cork, Galway, Waterford, Roscommon, Athlone, Killarney, Clonmel and several other towns around the country.

Garda estimated that more than 3,000 workers took part in the march in Dublin, which left the Smithfield area at 2pm and arrived outside the Dail at around 3.30pm.

Transport was affected in the capital as bus drivers showed their support for the demonstration, with traffic diversions adding to the disruptions.

Outside Dublin’s Leinster House crowds rallied around to listen to speakers representing the trade unions taking part in the protest.