Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The potential strike by air traffic controllers, which has been notified by IMPACT to the Irish Aviation Authority, arises in the context of an industrial relations dispute between the company and the trade union. I have no function in the matter. The Labour Court, which is the competent body for the settlement of industrial relations disputes, is to intervene in the matter next Monday, 25 February. As I have no function the question of my seeking a settlement as proposed by the Deputies does not arise.

I am very concerned about the potential impact of any strike action by air traffic controllers. As an island nation with a very open economy, we have a greater dependence on air transport than countries which have the benefit of surface transport access to neighbouring countries and major trading partners. This is the reason our aviation policy is focused on the development of new air transport services — a policy in which we have achieved great success. It is because of this success and the key supporting role that air transport plays in economic activity in Ireland that the consequences of strike action in any link in the air transport chain has a major negative impact and is to be avoided where possible.

Through the social partnership model we have worked hard to put in place an overarching framework to achieve industrial relations peace. The Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court are on hand to provide mediation and arbitration services where required. It is very disappointing that a major strike action might be taken before these institutions have had a reasonable opportunity to bring about a settlement. A pay dispute under Towards 2016 between air traffic controllers and IAA management in respect of change over and above normal ongoing change was determined in the Labour Court in December 2007 with a recommendation for an additional 5% pay increase from 1 January 2006. Air traffic controllers had quantified their claim at 30%, at least.

Air traffic controllers at Dublin Airport commenced unofficial action on 16 January 2008 by withdrawing co-operation with an agreement relating to voluntary overtime to cover sick absences. The present overtime arrangement was agreed as part of an overall deal under Partnership 2000 in 2001 and involves air traffic controllers voluntarily doing overtime on their rest days when necessary to cover the absences of colleagues.

The principle of "crewing to workload" was established in the IAA with all staff groups under the Partnership 2000 agreement. In the case of air traffic controllers, it was agreed that traffic demand is the prime determinant in the deployment of staff resources. In July 2005 the Labour Court confirmed the "crewing to workload" principle. Air traffic controllers received a 17% pay rise under Partnership 2000 for flexibility and productivity.

Up until the Labour Court Recommendation in December 2007, there was no issue with the existing voluntary call-in overtime arrangement. No issue arose for example during the peak traffic periods occurring in summer and at Christmas 2007. It has never been necessary for the IAA to introduce traffic restrictions or delays to aircraft due to the non-participation of air traffic controllers in voluntary overtime until 16 January 2008.

Following the unofficial action on 16 January, there have been a number of further instances of such unofficial action at Dublin, Shannon and Cork. This unofficial action demonstrates that there has already been considerable inconvenience imposed on the travelling public. The IAA received official notification from the IMPACT trade union on 12 February that, following a ballot, air traffic controller members would take official industrial action. The industrial action notified to the IAA is as follows: an overtime ban to take effect from 26 February 2008; work stoppages to take effect from a date no earlier than 26 February 2008, with at least seven days' notice of the specific time and date of a stoppage; and details of a work to rule are to be specified in the near future.

Following the commencement of unofficial action by air traffic controllers at Dublin Airport on 16 January 2008, the IAA met IMPACT and air traffic controller representatives from Shannon, Cork and Dublin airports on 17 January. On 18 January, the IAA referred the matter to the Labour Relations Commission. Discussions between IAA management and staff representatives at the LRC took place on 23 January regarding rosters, the call-in overtime arrangement, assignment of air traffic controller experts, direct recruitment of qualified controllers, work-life balance policies, annual leave availability and project work. Further intensive discussions between the parties under the auspices of the LRC took place from 30 January to 1 February in Dublin and Cork and again on 7 February.

Unfortunately, the LRC process broke down on 19 February and the Labour Court is to deal with the matter on Monday 25 February. Following the intervention of the Labour Court, IMPACT confirmed that there will be a 24-hour work stoppage by air traffic controllers on Thursday, 28 February. The IAA has extensive safety contingency arrangements in place for the management of Irish airspace should the strike go ahead. En route airspace over Ireland will remain open with delegated airspaces reverting to oceanic status, that is without Irish air traffic controller input, so overflying traffic will not be affected. However, only emergency traffic will be accommodated at Irish airports and the strike will inevitably result in significant disruption to traffic to and from all State and regional airports.

My Department has been closely monitoring developments in the air traffic controller dispute since the unofficial action commenced. I am satisfied that IAA management is engaging in intensive negotiations with IMPACT and air traffic controllers with a view to resolving the dispute. I urge all of the parties to work together to minimise and preferably prevent disruption to the travelling public so that our airports can remain open in view of the importance of air connectivity to our country for both business and leisure purposes.

I hope both sides in this dispute can recognise the imperative of reaching agreement. I urge them to work constructively with the Labour Court next Monday with a view to resolving the matter and avoiding the potential disruption to travellers on Thursday of next week. The issues that need to be tackled have already been ventilated and it is difficult to see how the disrupting passengers will bring enlightenment to the process.

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