Mr Tom Morrissey (PD) urged members of the Government parties be given an opportunity to show their support for the Aer Rianta break-up.
Calling for a debate on the threatened airport strike, he said Aer Rianta had not been established as a job-creation or a job-retention agency. It had been set up as a management function to look after the critical infrastructure of our airports.
"At a time when we have record numbers going through our airports, and when this economy has come through a downturn, it is appalling to think that one union in Dublin Airport can try and hold this country to ransom."
He said there were in this country risk-takers and investors who did not have job security. These were the people who paid their taxes so that this economy could go on.
Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) said we had reached an extraordinary point where the national newspapers considered with contempt the idea that people would want to have security of tenure in their employment.
Mr Shane Ross (Ind) said it should be pointed out to those who were holding the nation to ransom that there was an item in Sustaining Progress which promised industrial peace.
Mr Jim Walsh (FF) said: "I have considerable sympathy with the Minister for Transport as he has many difficult areas with which to deal. He should be encouraged and complimented for taking the initiative on these matters."