Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Is the Tánaiste aware that unless action is taken quite soon, it is likely that the entire Aer Lingus fleet will be grounded in the next week or so as a result of the threat by management to lock the pilots out? We may find ourselves in a position where not only are there no services out of Shannon, there might be no services out of Ireland. In light of the gravity of the situation, has the Government considered asking the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to use section 38 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990, which was introduced — in a previous capacity — by the Taoiseach to allow the Labour Court, the Labour Relations Commission or some other body or person to bring the two parties together? Does the Tánaiste agree it is time to knock heads together before Aer Lingus passengers suffer and damage is done to the country's reputation as a place to do business?

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