SEANAD REPORT:CONTENDING THAT a lack of trust was at the heart of the dispute between the Irish Aviation Authority and air traffic controllers, Joe O'Toole (Ind) said the managers who had acted against some workers should be sacked.

“They knew what was going to happen. They knew that laying off these people prior to it being heard by the Labour Court was going to create industrial action.”

Frances Fitzgerald, Fine Gael leader in the House, described as economic sabotage the industrial action by the controllers. There was a need for effective Government action to ensure that action was taken to avoid chaos that impacted on the country’s image at times of great challenge.

Party colleague Eugene Regan said the controllers’ work stoppage was purely and simply economic blackmail because air traffic control was a service that was essential to the economy.

David Norris (Ind) said he found himself in the unusual position of agreeing with Michael O’Leary of Ryanair. “I think the situation is absolutely disgraceful; when we’re in an economic difficulty that people should take action which is a gross self-indulgence by well-paid people.”

Terry Leyden (FF) said for the air aviation authority to suspend the workers was highly provocative. “I think they hold responsibility for pushing this case to the limit they did.”

The centenary commemoration of the 1916 Rising could take place under a cloud if timely action was not taken to safeguard buildings associated with the last stand of the insurgents, Labhras Ó Murchú (FF) said. He found it particularly embarrassing that descendants of the Proclamation signatories had found it necessary to highlight that several buildings on Dublin’s Moore Street, which constituted a national monument in every sense, could be in danger of desecration.