Terence Flanagan
Question:287. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he will take to prevent a strike at Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11463/14]
View answerThursday, 6 March 2014
Questions (287)
Written answers
SIPTU served strike notice on Aer Lingus, DAA, and Shannon Airport Authority on 27 February 2014. This industrial action is scheduled to take place on Friday March 14th 2014 between 5 am and 9 am, which is the busiest time of day on one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Following consultations among my Department, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, IBEC and ICTU an Expert Panel has been established to carry out an urgent investigation on how a final resolution of the industrial relations issues relating to the IASS can be secured. The Expert Panel is being asked to carry out a detailed investigation, to include discussions with the LRC and the Labour Court and to carry out this work in a timely fashion as soon as practicable, recognising the considerable complexities of the issues involved. The Panel has been asked to make a preliminary report to both Departments, IBEC and Congress by the end of this month.
I welcome the fact that SIPTU have agreed to engage with the Expert Panel and I strongly urge them to reconsider the decision to go ahead with the planned industrial action.