Mr. Neil McGowan:

I will try to put it politely. The engagement has been less than desirable. Management unilaterally made an announcement a number of weeks ago that it would introduce a voluntary severance scheme with career breaks and an offer of reduced working hours available to people. It also announced on the same day it was seeking a 20% pay cut until April 2023. That is completely unacceptable and will not be accepted by the trade unions. Protections are in place in the Payment of Wages Act and legislative protections were also introduced for Shannon Airport workers when the airport was separated. Shannon Airport needs to move back within management of the DAA. The project of Shannon Airport as a stand-alone entity has failed. I suggest it had proved to have failed prior to Covid and Covid has made the situation more acute.

In recent weeks, we have written to the Minister with responsibility for transport through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the future of Shannon Airport. Unfortunately we have not received a response. The interactions with Shannon Airport management to date have certainly been less than desirable.