THE TRADE union Impact has said there was a very positive mood among air traffic controllers yesterday at the proposals to resolve the row that had threatened to disrupts flight into and out of the country this week.
Union representatives met air traffic controllers yesterday at Dublin, Shannon and Cork to discuss proposals put forward by the Labour Court on Monday.
Speaking after the Dublin meeting, a spokesman for Impact said the feeling in the branch was that the issue was "moving in the right direction". Impact is expected to ballot air traffic controllers on the Labour Court proposals in the next few days.
Meanwhile the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) told Impact yesterday it would appoint an additional 20 air traffic controllers.
It is understood that, in a letter to the union, the IAA said it would fill eight fixed-term contracts for new air traffic controllers and that it would also advertise shortly for 12 additional positions.
It is understood the personnel to be recruited will be trained air traffic controllers who could take up work reasonably quickly.
The IAA has already recruited a group of new trainee air traffic controllers. However, due to the lengthy training involved, these will not become fully operational for nearly two years.
Impact sources said the commitment to recruit additional personnel was also strongly welcomed.