Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

I refer to the threatened strike by Aer Rianta workers tomorrow. I support the calls by other Members for the Minister for Transport to attend the House to debate this issue. Aer Rianta was not established as a job creation or a job retention agency. It was given a management function to look after our airports, a critical part of the State's infrastructure. At a time when record numbers of travellers are passing through our airports and the economy has emerged from a downturn, it is appalling that one union at Dublin Airport can try to hold the country to ransom. I do not mind whether the union calls off the strike tomorrow but I object to it threatening to strike in any event. The Minister should come to the House and spell out what is happening so that we can support his attempts to break up Aer Rianta. Risk takers and investors in Ireland do not have job security but they pay their taxes so that the economy can go on.