Minister Ross rules out getting involved as Bus Éireann plans cost-cutting measures

Latest: The transport minister says he will only get involved in Bus Éireann when the industrial relations dispute is over.

Update 5.38pm: The transport minister says he will only get involved in Bus Éireann when the industrial relations dispute is over.

Shane Ross has urged management and unions to get back to talks at the Workplace Relations Commission as "fast as possible".

Bus Éireann is expected to push ahead with cost cutting plans, but unions say that will lead to an all-out strike.

Minister Ross has again ruled out a direct intervention by him at this stage.

"It would be the shareholders duty to get involved in structural reform if that is necessary, but not to get involved in an industrial relations dispute.

"I made it quite clear to Deputy Troy and others here many, many times, that once this dispute has ended I will be very happy to engage in talks."

Earlier: Unions are again warning of strike action at Bus Éireann if the company goes ahead with plans to cut pay.

The company is expected to inform staff today that it wants to implement a raft of cost-cutting measures, from as early as next week.

Management have said the company will become insolvent by May if the cuts are not introduced.

Willie Quigley of the UNITE union thinks the company is being provocative.

“If there is no engagement and the company repeat what they have done so far a number of times, which was to threaten unilateral imposition of cuts - the unions have agreed that is that happens then strike notice is triggered again.”