Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 September 2021
111. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport if he has had any engagement with front-line maintenance workers at Dublin Airport regarding attempts by the Dublin Airport Authority to outsource front-line maintenance work at the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44115/21]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for her question.
In the first instance, the matters being referred to by the Deputy are industrial relations matters and therefore, a matter for the Company, the employees and the trade unions concerned.
COVID-19 has had an unprecedented adverse impact on daa’s operations. Passenger numbers at Dublin and Cork airports fell from 35.5m passengers in 2019 to 7.9m passengers in 2020, reflecting a 78% reduction. The outcome of this unprecedented reduction in passenger numbers is evidenced in daa's end 2020 Annual Report and Financial Statements which reflects losses of some €187m in 2020, compared to a profit of €150m in 2019.
In response, the Company embarked on a restructuring of the business and the introduction of new work practices. In this regard, it has reached agreements on new ways of working with some 93% of staff (c. 2,100 employees). Where daa has not reached agreement with unions and staff in relation to the introduction of these new work practices, the Company has engaged with the industrial relations institutions of the State, including the Labour Court.
I have been informed that following engagement with the Labour Court, some Unions and staff have not accepted the Labour Court recommendation regarding daa’s introduction of new work practices. As a result, the Company advised staff in these areas that it was commencing engagement in relation to the provision of front-line maintenance services by a third-party provider.
I understand that this may result in the transfer of staff and their activities to a third party. However, no final decision had been made in this regard. I am also advised that daa continues to seek engagement with the trade unions in relation to this matter.
