Irish rail strike action called off after talks
Railway workers at Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) have called off planned strike action over a pay dispute, after lengthy talks with company management.
Thousands of passengers have already been affected by the dispute, following a two-day stoppage late last month that also affected cross-border trains.
Further action was planned, coinciding with the biggest games in the Gaelic Athletic Association's (GAA) calendar.
It was cancelled when both sides agreed Labour Relations Commission proposals.
Representatives of the National Bus & Railworkers' Union (NBRU) and the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) held talks with Iarnród Éireann management until 01:30 local time on Wednesday.
Both unions said the Labour Relations Commission's proposals addressed all their concerns but they will now ballot their members on whether to accept the deal.
Owen Reidy from SIPTU told the Irish broadcaster RTÉ the introduction of temporary pay cuts for Iarnród Éireann workers have been postponed, pending the outcome of the ballot.
The GAA said it welcomed the fact the industrial action had been called off, given the number of its members and supporters who use rail services to attend its games.
The cancelled strike had been planned for 7, 8 and 21 September and the two Sundays coincide with the GAA's All-Ireland hurling and football finals.