Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

229. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a response will issue to correspondence from this Deputy on 3 August 2021 (details supplied) regarding the outsourcing of jobs at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43279/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to acknowledge the delay in responding to your email on the 3rd of August however I can set out the position on this matter below. 

In the first instance, the matters being referred to by the Deputy are industrial relations matters and therefore, matters for the Company, the employees and the trade unions concerned.   

The severe impacts of COVID-19 saw passenger numbers at Dublin and Cork airports decline by 78% to 7.9 million in 2020, as almost 28 million fewer passengers used those airports last year when compared to 2019. The outcome of this unprecedented reduction in passenger numbers in evidenced in daa's Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2020 which show that the Company recorded losses of some €187m in 2020.  In response to this, the Company embarked on a restructuring of the business and the introduction of new work practices.  

In this regard, it has reached agreements on new ways of working with some 93% of staff (c. 2,100 employees).  Where daa has not reached agreement with unions and staff in relation to the introduction of these new work practices, the Company has engaged with the industrial relations institutions of the State, including the Labour Court.  

I have been informed that following engagement with the Labour Court, some Unions and staff have not accepted the Labour Court recommendation regarding daa’s introduction of new work practices, and as a result, the Company advised staff in these areas that it was commencing engagement in relation to the provision of front-line maintenance services by a third-party provider.  

I have been informed that this may result in the transfer of staff and their activities to a third party, however, no final decision had been made in this regard.  I am also advised that daa continues to seek engagement with the trade unions in relation to this matter.