Rabbitte: Trade union protest must not be mis-represented

The Labour Party has congratulated the trade union movement for what it says was the "fantastic" turnout at last Friday's national day of protest.

Party leader Pat Rabbitte said this afternoon the Irish Ferries dispute is striking a chord with people who fear they could also be replaced by foreign staff on low wages.

However, he warned the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern not to mis-represent Friday's action: “The Taoiseach claimed the people out marching against the war In Iraq were out marching in support of his government’s policy and he’s in danger of doing the same thing about the 100,000 that turned out on the Irish Ferries march.

“While the Taoiseach makes sympathetic noises at home, what he is actually doing in Europe in preventing directives, like the directive on agency workers and the seafarers directive, being implemented,” he said.