Industrial action from pilots 'damaging Irish economy and tourism', says McGrath

Vivienne Clarke

The outgoing Minister of Finance, Michael McGrath, said that the current industrial action from Aer Lingus pilots is "very damaging for the Irish economy and tourism".

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Wednesday morning, he said "More importantly than that, it is impacting the lives of ordinary people.

"We've heard human stories of weddings, of families trying to get away for a hard earned break.

"We've listened to spokespersons from both the airline and the pilots saying that they are inviting each other to meetings, and yet meetings are not happening.

"So there seems to be a disagreement, even about the terms of engagement. And normally, when two parties want to meet each other, it happens. So they need to meet.

“It is concerning that the Labour Court clearly arrived at the view, having met both on the bilateral basis, that there was not a foundation for further engagement.

"Right now, we know the timing is always, important when it comes to these matters. But every day that this goes on just causes more and more damage and human misery."

Mr McGrath said the truth is that "both parties here are going to have to move" adding that "In any dispute nobody gets everything that they want.”

When asked if the government should intervene, Mr McGrath said that the mediator was the Labour Court. "The mediator is the industrial relations machinery that we have. And they have tremendous expertise in this area.

"They've been involved in many, many disputes down the years. And they have the judgment, and the experience to know when is the right time to bring the parties together into one room. And clearly, having listened to both parties in the last couple of days, they did not feel that we are yet at that point.

"So it is about timing, but both parties just have to recognise the reality. This dispute is hurting.

" As soon as they get into a room and sit down around the table, the better, because the damage is only going to grow by the day. And this will be resolved. And does that have to come after a protracted dispute that causes an even greater level of damage? I would hope it doesn’t.”