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Industrial Disputes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Questions (52)

Mick Barry

Question:

52. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the lockout of workers at Waterford Airport. [22792/16]

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Written answers

I understand that the dispute at Waterford Airport relates to the reduction in working hours for staff members due to the closure of Belgian-based carrier VLM, which operated passenger services from Waterford Airport to Luton.

I very much appreciate the challenges facing Waterford Airport at the moment due to the recent loss of the service operated by VLM and I understand that efforts are continuing to find an alternative airline to provide passenger services to/from Waterford which will deliver vital regional connectivity for business, tourism and leisure. As the Deputy will be aware, my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has lead responsibility for promoting the development of a vibrant, competitive and progressively regulated aviation sector.

I would like to assure the Deputy that the State’s industrial relations machinery is available to assist in the resolution of this dispute. I would urge both parties to engage fully in negotiations at local level and with the State's industrial relations machinery in order to resolve their differences in this instance. Even what often appears to be an intractable dispute is capable of resolution where both sides engage constructively and in good faith in this voluntary process. The principle of good faith implies that both sides in a dispute make every effort to reach an agreement and endeavour, through genuine and constructive negotiations, to arrive at a conclusion that is satisfactory to all concerned.

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