Strike threat - Transport reform must continue

AS the travelling public heaved a sigh of relief yesterday following the Taoiseach’s success in averting tomorrow’s strike at the country’s three main airports, hopes remained alive last night that the threatened nationwide stoppage of bus and rail services would also be called off.

But while the union decision to call off one aspect of the SIPTU action will be welcomed, the question to be asked is why this scenario went down to the wire, discommoding tens of thousands of people.

Ultimately, it took Bertie Ahern’s 11th hour intervention, coupled with the threat of legal action against SIPTU by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, to bring sense to the airport situation.