Written answers

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Airport Policy

Photo of Duncan SmithDuncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he and his Department intend to undertake to address the workplace relations concerns between the Irish Aviation Authority and air traffic control workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44103/21]

Photo of Maurice QuinlivanMaurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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120. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there were no air traffic controllers available at State airports, namely Cork and Shannon airports, during dates in July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44128/21]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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137. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received representations from air traffic controllers requesting his immediate intervention and investigation into the activities and conduct of members of the executive team of the Irish Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44097/21]

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will investigate the activities and conduct of the executive management team of the Irish Aviation Authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44241/21]

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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183. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence in relation to the Irish Aviation Authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44324/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 120, 137, 175 and 183 together.

In recent days I have received email correspondence from many individual air traffic controllers outlining their concerns regarding workplace issues within the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). This correspondence was also copied to members of the Oireachtas, the IAA, and my Department. The issues raised in this correspondence are matters which fall to be addressed by the Board and Executive of the IAA. I have sought and received a briefing from the IAA, on the concerns raised in the correspondence, and on the unofficial industrial action which in recent months has resulted in temporary staff shortages at State airports. 

As with any industrial relations matter, it is in the best interests of all parties to utilise established dispute resolution processes, which I understand in the IAA's case includes the Internal Dispute Resolution Charter and processes, the adoption and operation of which have been jointly utilised by the IAA and its staff representative bodies for some time now.

With this in mind, and in the wider context of an aviation sector that, like so many others in society, has been severely impacted by Covid-19 and is now trying to get back on its feet as we see the first tentative signs of economic recovery, perhaps now is an opportunity for reflection and re-engagement by the parties involved.

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