Labour leader Eamon Gilmore yesterday called on Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea and Government TDs from the west to take a stand with the people they represent in a Dáil vote on the Shannon-Aer Lingus controversy.
Speaking in Shannon yesterday Mr Gilmore said that he would be asking Mr O'Dea and Government TDs along the west to vote in favour of a Labour Party motion calling on the Government to take all appropriate steps to ensure that the Shannon-Heathrow Aer Lingus service was maintained, including the holding of an extraordinary general meeting (egm).
Speaking after meeting representatives from the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance (ACA) and the Shannon Action Group, Mr Gilmore said: "There are occasions when TDs have to take a stand with the people they represent and sometimes that means breaking the party whip and taking the consequences for that."
He added that there was also a "long tradition and expectation that senior Cabinet ministers on key issues deliver for their own people, and it is Minister O'Dea's responsibility to deliver".
Flanked by Labour TDs Jan O'Sullivan and Michael D. Higgins at a press briefing in Shannon, Mr Gilmore said: "The only way that this problem can be resolved is through Government action."
Meanwhile, the Labour Court has said that its recommendation that Aer Lingus should be permitted to recruit cabin crew at foreign bases on local rates was intended to apply to any geographical location outside its jurisdiction.
The court also said yesterday that its recommendation was based on the understanding that the airline's normal practice was to establish pay and conditions for staff through collective bargaining.
However, it said that it had not recommended any particular negotiating arrangements.
The court also said that it had formulated its recommendation on the assurances given by the airline that its proposals for foreign bases would not impact adversely on the security of employment or conditions of existing staff.
In a recommendation issued last February the Labour Court said that Aer Lingus should be allowed to recruit cabin crew in foreign bases at local pay rates.
Following the decision by Aer Lingus to establish its first base outside the Republic of Ireland in Belfast, the trade union Impact sought clarification from the court on the recommendation.
Impact asked the Labour Court whether the reference to "foreign bases" was intended to include Belfast.
The court, in reply, said that it did not have any specific location in mind for where Aer Lingus might establish such bases. However, it said that it intended its recommendation to apply to any location outside the jurisdiction of the Labour Court.
Impact had also sought to determine whether the Labour Court intended to give Aer Lingus management the freedom to decide arbitrarily on pay and conditions at any of its bases.
In its reply, which was issued last night, the Labour Court said that it had expressly recommended that the terms and conditions of employment of staff recruited to foreign bases would be determined by reference to local conditions.
Aer Lingus said last night that it welcomed the clarification from the court and was considering the details.
Impact said that it welcomed the clarification that the recommendation was based on the understanding that pay would be determined through collective bargaining.