Sinn Féin spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, has urged the government to proactively engage to ensure a resolution is found in the Aer Lingus dispute.
She warned that failure to act would cause uncertainty for passengers and the tourism sector.
Speaking in the Dáil today during Leaders’ Questions, Teachta O’Reilly said:
“This morning, pilots at Aer Lingus have started industrial action in the form of a work to rule.
“This has upended the holiday plans of tens of thousands of workers and families; many of whom can scarcely afford to rearrange these plans.
“The consequences of this industrial action will be wide-ranging. Those working in the tourism sector will tell you that they’ve seen a slow down in bookings for weeks, and they’re now braced for cancellations. They are only just getting back on their feet after Covid and all the other challenges they faced in the recent past. They need a good season this year.
“We have been raising this issue for weeks now. A week ago, I wrote to the Taoiseach urging him to make a decisive intervention. I got a holding reply but, as yet, I haven’t had an answer.
“This isn’t good enough. It isn’t good enough at all. There are now three days left to avert the strike action that is taking place this coming Saturday.
“People are watching. They want to know does the government intend to intervene or will they stand by and watch while thousands of people have their holiday plans ruined and people face into a very uncertain season in the tourism sector?”
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