Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State's reply gives us an answer in the context of what we can achieve. The Minister of State's bona fides should be accepted on this. There is a win in terms of a new board, a new independent regulator, a new CEO and stakeholder engagement. The Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, should meet with a representative body of air traffic controllers because there seems to be permeating through the organisation a culture of fear and harassment. The safety culture which the Minister of State said in her reply is paramount, and that of the board of the executive, is shot. It is done.Reference has been made to the internal dispute resolution process. That has completely failed and now neither side has confidence in the culture. Perhaps I am wrong but I do not believe that the issues with the process can be resolved and give us the outcome that we all want. The safety culture is broken and needs to be fixed.

Senator Craughwell spoke about IALPA. The relationship between IAA management and the air traffic controllers is damaged. I am trying to find the emails from the committee. Fundamentally, a safe working environment is needed. I very much welcome the response by the Minister of State, which I hope is centred on staff well-being.

I apologise for being haphazard with my notes but I wish to put the something on record. The members of staff who come in every day have a pre-work meeting where people are asked whether they are okay, up to the task, whether anything is bothering or concerning them, and how are they feeling as they arrive at work. That is the type of engagement prior to work.

I appeal to Senator Craughwell to accept the bona fides of the Minister of State in the context of her reply. In fairness, she has given us a positive reply. All members of the committee accept that the internal dispute resolution process is not working. The process cannot work in the future and I place my confidence in the new board, new CEO and new independent mechanism. The committee approach of engaging with Mr. Kieran Mulvey should be explored. I appeal to the good nature of the Minister of State and the senior Minister to meet to discuss this matter because we need to establish all of the facts.

With regard to working in a toxic environment that does not have well-being at its heart, despite all the policy statements, glossy magazines and PowerPoint presentations and comments that have been conveyed to Department, I have met these people and was struck by their sincerity. I fully understand and accept that there are two sides in every dispute. I was a shop steward when I was a teacher so I have been in staffrooms where there have been disputes and issues but, at the end of the day, there is a commonality that allows people to reach an outcome. I hope that we do not have to vote on this amendment. There is a dysfunctionality between management and staff that must be addressed and hope that we can do that. Finally, I take great heart from the response given by the Minister of State.