Unions and govt officials meet to discuss future of CIE

Trade union representatives are due to begin three days of negotiations with officials from the Department of Transport today about the future of public transport in Ireland.

The Government's plan to break CIE into three competing entities and and privatise one-quarter of Dublin bus routes are expected to dominate the talks, which are being chaired by the Labour Relations Commission.

Unions are vehemently opposed to the plan, especially the privatisation of Dublin Bus routes.

They fear the move will lead to hundreds of job losses and will see lucrative routes sold off to private businessmen while Dublin Bus continues to operate the less profitable routes.