Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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7. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he continues to monitor the effects of the dispute at Aer Lingus with particular reference to the urgent need to ensure that the general public are not discommoded other than to the minimum and that every effort is made to resolve this dispute and any other such disputes that might follow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28585/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question was tabled when the scene was not so clear in relation to negotiations in the Aer Lingus dispute. I understand and appreciate the fact that those negotiations have progressed in the meantime and I hope, at this stage, that positive progress can continue. Anything the Minister can do to facilitate and encourage that would be appreciated.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Durkan for the question. As he as said, there have been significant developments in this matter overnight and in the last couple of days which I very much welcome. My Department has been monitoring this industrial relations dispute for several weeks and I have been closely engaged since being appointed to this role this day last week. It is important to state that neither I nor the Minister, Deputy Ryan, have any statutory role or powers to exercise in this dispute. The industrial relations mechanisms of the State, mainly the Labour Court, are intensively engaged and are assisting the parties to this dispute to reach a resolution.

As is well known already, both parties to this dispute, Aer Lingus and the Irish Airline Pilots Association, IALPA, which is part of the Fórsa trade union, have availed of the assistance of both the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, and the Labour Court in this dispute and have engaged more intensively in recent times. I very much welcome the fact that in the last few days the Labour Court formally intervened in the dispute using its statutory powers under section 26(5) of the Industrial Relations Act 1990, which enables the court, of its own volition, to enter into sessions with the parties and then to make recommendations. It is a very important procedure that is seldom used but which is entirely appropriate in this context. The procedure involved written submissions being made by both parties, after which the Labour Court held oral hearings. It is now considering what it has heard and will bring recommendations to the table. I hope that whatever recommendations the Labour Court makes will be given the fullest consideration and will be both acceptable to and accepted by both parties. As I said, this is a seldom-invoked procedure. Since enactment of the Industrial Relations Act in 1990 it has been invoked four or five times in three decades. The very fact of it being seldom used underlines the seriousness of the dispute and I trust that both parties will reflect on that very seriously and afford the mechanism the deference and consideration it deserves. I hope they will reflect on that and act accordingly.

I welcome the fact that the pilots' union has indicated that its members will not take any further strike action while the Labour Court recommendations are awaited and that it will ballot its members on those recommendations when they are made. The travelling public deserves no less. The people who are watching this dispute, who have holidays booked, travel plans made and engagements coming up, deserve no less and they need to know what is going to happen.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate Deputy Lawless on his accession to the august role that he now finds himself in and I wish him well in the future. Naturally, I will be keeping a close eye on his activities, encouraging the positive and pointing out anything that might be going wrong. I also congratulate the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on his contribution to politics in this country and to this and previous Governments. I wish him well in whatever role he sees for himself in the future.

I also welcome the developments that have taken place and encourage them. I have similar views to the Minister of State and agree that when a major dispute occurs that can have an impact not only on one sector but on the country and economy in general, including on business and industry throughout the country, then there must be a more rapid recognition of the fundamental impact of same. In such situations, there is a need for the earliest possible intervention.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Durkan. I would expect no less than a watching brief from my constituency colleague and will take on board the points that will be wisely made by him. I agree with his comments that this is critical, which is why I particularly welcome the intervention of the Labour Court, not just to hear the parties on request but to act on its own volition under the aforementioned section 26(5) procedure.

In terms of those affected, it is important to point out that EU Regulation EC 261/2004 ensures that when a flight is cancelled passengers have a right to compensation. They have a right to rerouting or refunding and, depending on the circumstances, to compensation. Airlines have an obligation to inform passengers of those rights. I understand that Aer Lingus has provided that information on the travel advisory page of its website. The Irish Aviation Authority is also providing advice and assistance but it should not come to that. Although those rights exist and are enshrined in law, including European law, that is actually cold comfort to someone who has a holiday booked or a flight booked and cannot travel. Again, I stress that there is a weight of expectation on the shoulders of the pilots and the airline to take very seriously the Labour Court recommendations, consider them and, hopefully, move forward with them.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State. We would all echo the hope that the discussions now taking place are satisfactory and resolve the issues in hand in the shortest possible time. This is not just about a particular sector but also about discommoding the general public and the impact on the wider economy. Lessons can be learned from this in the sense of how to deal with a dispute as time passes. We may have situations in the future that are more challenging and require more urgent attention at an earlier stage. As a result of intervention at an earlier stage, we will be able to get to a situation whereby such disputes are not necessarily as big a threat to the wider economy and the general public as has been the case here.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is quite right that we have enjoyed relative industrial peace in this country in recent times and that is to be welcomed. It is a sign, largely, of a successful economy but also of empowered workers and unions and good relations between employers and employees. Thankfully, that has been the case, by and large, in recent times, notwithstanding the current dispute. The Taoiseach stated on Tuesday in this Chamber that there was only one way this could end. The only way any industrial relations dispute can end is by engagement and compromise. As the Taoiseach quite rightly said, it is just a matter of when that happens and whether it happens sooner or later. The sooner the better for everybody concerned because people have a right to be able to follow through on plans they have made to go on holidays, take up business travel, welcome visiting relatives or whatever the case may be. There are many reasons people want to fly. We are an island nation and we have a limited number of options to connect with the outside world. Aviation is at the core of that, obviously.

It is also worth saying that there were multiple strands to this dispute. A a number of different mechanisms were used to address the pilot pay issue, including a pilots' pay tribunal chaired by a senior counsel, the WRC and, ultimately, the Labour Court. One would hope that it will not take so many steps the next time there is a dispute and that it can be resolved in the first instance.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Tá Ceist Uimh. 8 in ainm an Teachta Rose Conway-Walsh. Tá an Teachta Martin Kenny ainmnithe.