Irish Rail says it hopes talks with trade unions next week will help to avoid threatened train strikes.

SIPTU and the NBRU had issued notice for morning rush hour strikes involving train drivers on Friday 23rd October and Friday 6th November.

But the Workplace Relations Commission, formerly the LRC, has invited the rail company management and the unions, to a meeting on Monday.

Barry Kenny, Communications Manager with Irish Rail, says it's in nobody's interests to disrupt train services: