Varadkar: I'd rather another bus strike than a stopgap agreement

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said that he would rather see Bus Éireann workers go back on strike than reach an agreement that fails to deliver savings.

Talks between unions and management have resumed at the Labour Relations Commission today.

The National Bus & Rail Union (NBRU) suspended its strike for 48 hours to allow the talks take place. The deadline expires tonight.

Minister Varadkar told reporters that the wrong agreement will simply mean the company will be back in the same situation in a few months' time.

"I would rather see us go back into a strike situation than have an agreement that doesn't deliver the necessary savings that protect passenger services," he said.

When asked if he was hopeful of an outcome, he responded: "I'm hopeful, but I'm certainly by no means certain of it."