Some people were very unhappy with it…
Minster for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross has come under some flack following a tweet he sent on Tuesday evening.
He wrote: “Man U lead 1-0 against Benfica . Both Finian and I want to back Man U so no bet . Sixty one minutes gone but by no means over [sic].”
It’s a perfectly innocent tweet to send most of the time but for many people last night, it struck a nerve as Irish Rail strikes loomed on Wednesday.
Irish Rail began the first of their five scheduled days of industrial action in the run up to Christmas on Wednesday.
Irish Rail workers want a 3.75% a year pay rise over three years in line with recent wage increases secured by Luas and Dublin Bus workers.
Talks between unions and company management at the Workplace Relations Commission earlier this month ended without agreement with unions then voting in favour of industrial action.
During the Bus Eireann strikes earlier this year, Ross did not intervene in the dispute and said it was up to the unions and workers to find a resolution for the dispute.
In a statement yesterday, Ross said: “I sincerely call on the parties to the Iarnród Éireann pay dispute to continue to use the services of the Labour Court and the WRC.
“It is important for the travelling public – and also for the staff and for the company itself – that public transport continues, and that the dispute is resolved in a realistic, fair and sustainable manner.”
However, plenty of people were annoyed about the timing of his tweet…
🔥minister Shane Ross unavailable to #tonighttv3 as well. We're doing Irish Rail and #RWC2023 bid both of which are relevant to him. https://t.co/e9CKL0BbY2
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) October 31, 2017
Jaysus, there’s a Rail strike tomorrow Shane! Priorities?! https://t.co/9WPdjHuEXi
— Alan Kelly TD (@alankellylabour) October 31, 2017
Shane Ross tweeting about Man utd tells us how much time he's putting into this dispute #tonighttv3
— colm (therealElonmuck) mahony (@the_duke59) October 31, 2017
Wow…
— Mark Cunning (@markcunning) October 31, 2017
How about a bet on the chances of me getting in to work tomorrow? #irishrailstrike
— Terry McDonald (@TerryMcDonald) October 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/brianh40619646/status/925491159585251330
Nice to to see you have your priorities in the right order Shane. Luckily you have that ministerial car for tomorrow.
— Dammit, Märty (@MartysPhotos91) October 31, 2017
Seriously, there’s a train strike tomorrow.
— Declan McCabe (@declanmaccabe) October 31, 2017
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
