A cabinet minister has admitted the government DOES have the power to allow civilians to use bus lanes during the Dublin Bus strike.

But Leo Varadkar says there are good safety reasons for not doing so.

Commuters have been complaining about traffic gridlock in the city as a result of the bus strike - while the bus lanes are empty.

Minister Varadkar served as transport minister during a three-day strike in 2012.

He says it's up to Shane Ross to consider the measure now - but there were good reasons he didn't do so: