No progress reported after talks on Irish Ferries jobs

Talks between the social partners have reportedly failed to produce any breakthrough in the row over Irish Ferries' plans to replace its existing workers with cheap labour from abroad.

The employers' body IBEC, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and government officials all discussed the situation last night during a meeting of the National Implementation Body, which was set up to ensure compliance with social partnership deals.

However, reports this morning said the meeting ended without any breakthrough and without any arrangements for further talks.

Irish Ferries announced earlier this week that it wanted to replace the 543 workers on its Irish Sea routes with cheaper labour from eastern Europe.

It said existing workers could take voluntary redundancy or accept lower pay and an erosion of their working conditions.

SIPTU immediately served two weeks' strike notice on the company as a result of the development.