Madam, - Dublin Airport, an essential national service, is to close next week for the third time in as many months because of industrial action by SIPTU, causing disruption to 50,000 passengers.
Ryanair has called on the Board of Aer Rianta to confirm it will implement its own contingency plans to keep Dublin Airport open during times of industrial action. This contingency plan was introduced by Aer Rianta following the 1998 Flynn & McAuley Report to ensure that the Aer Rianta Board would keep Dublin Airport open during times of industrial action.
Implementing a contingency plan works: it worked recently during the Aer Lingus cabin crew dispute, which meant Aer Lingus kept flying. So why has the board of Aer Rianta not immediately confirmed that it will implement its own contingency plan?
If the Aer Rianta Board fails yet again to implement its own contingency plan next Thursday, then the Minister should dismiss this board for failure to carry out its statutory duties.
So come on, Aer Rianta, implement the contingency plan and prevent further disruption to 50,000 passengers and Irish tourism. - Yours, etc.,
PAUL FITZSIMMONS, Head of Communications, Ryanair, Dublin Airport.