Bus and rail workers begin four-hour stoppage

Ireland's public transport system has ground to a halt as bus and rail workers begin a four-hour stoppage in protest at Government plans to break up CIE and privatise bus routes in Dublin.

The protest, organised by SIPTU and the Bus and Railworkers Union, began at 11am and is due to continue until 3pm.

Three thousand bus and rail workers have already left their vehicles in Dublin to participate in a march to the Department of Transport and to CIE headquarters at Heuston Station.