The Tanaiste Ms Harney said yesterday that she was very concerned about the ground handlers' dispute at Ryanair. SIPTU again called on Ryanair to negotiate, saying this was what the public and the airline's customers wanted.
Ms Harney said the labour relations machinery of the State was available to both parties in the dispute. The intervention of a third party "might be helpful" she added. But she refused to comment on trade union recognition at the company, one of the key issues in the dispute.