A leading business lobby group has come out in support of radical SIPTU proposals to invest in a second terminal at Dublin Airport.
SIPTU's civil aviation branch at the airport is promoting the idea of members investing in any new terminal, potentially alongside a private investor and the Dublin Airport Authority.
The issue was due to be discussed briefly yesterday among SIPTU members at the airport, but several industrial relations problems took priority.
The proposals, which have been discussed with SIPTU president Mr Jack O'Connor, would involve SIPTU members paying into a civil aviation investment scheme. These funds would be used to take a stake in any new terminal.
SIPTU has written to the 13 companies interested in building a second terminal to discuss the idea further.
While the Government has yet to give the go-ahead for a second terminal, the union is anxious to be involved in any new project.
Yesterday, the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland gave the idea a cautious welcome. Its Air Transport Users' Council said the idea was "an innovative and interesting departure".
But it warned that such investment would have to be covered by rules similar to the governance of company pension schemes and other group investment schemes. "In particular, to comply with best governance practice, it would be necessary that a Chinese wall be erected between the employees' interests as shareholders and the trade union's involvement as industrial relations representative for its members," it said.
Mr Tadhg Kearney, chairman of the council, said: "It is imperative that any new second terminal at Dublin Airport is free to establish its own business model, manning levels and work practices without reference to top-heavy and inefficient work practices in other parts of Dublin Airport.
"This should not preclude union/employee equity involvement in the new terminal and, indeed, in the right circumstances, this should be welcomed," he said.
If a second terminal was established, he said, it would have to compete vigorously with existing facilities "in the same way as Ryanair and Aer Lingus currently do at the same airport".
