A building firm employee has climbed to the top of a Dublin crane to protest at what he claims is his employers failure to comply with legal obligations.

Construction worker Paul Hansard climbed the crane on the building site - where he works in the East Wall area of the City - out of frustration at 8am this morning.

After the scaffolding sub-contractor he was working for went out of business last month, Mr Hansard was told that he was now employed by a new contractor - who he raised queries with regarding how he was paid.

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Mr Hansard, who is the chairman of SIPTU's Construction Branch in Dublin, took action after his employer refused to include him on a mandatory pension scheme.

He told RTÉ News it would be completely inappropriate for him as Chairman of SIPTU's Dublin Construction Branch to work in a non-compliant company.

It is understood that the main contractors on the site, PJ Hegarty, are trying to clarify matters with the sub contractor - G Mac Scaffolding - a Co Tyrone based firm.

Mr Hansard has said it may now be too cold to attempt to climb down.

(VB/JM)