Air traffic controllers today issued two weeks formal notice of strike action to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) in a move that could ground flights coming in and out of the country.
Over the weekend the controllers, who are members of the Impact trade union, voted by a majority of 99 per cent in favour of the industrial action.
In a statement issued today Impact said the notice included a ban on overtime to take effect from 26th February and notice of work to rule with details to be specified at a later date.
The union also issued preliminary notice of temporary work stoppages to take effect from a date no earlier than 26th February if the dispute is not resolved following discussions in the LRC.
The controllers are essentially in dispute with the IAA about short-staffing and the amount of overtime they are being asked to do as a result.
In response to the notice, the IAA said the action is "excessive" and a "blatant breach" of the national agreement, Towards 2016.
The authority said: "The industrial action will affect all en-route and terminal air traffic services in and out of the country.
"This has the potential to cause major disruptions to airlines and to the travelling public."
Last Saturday a dozen flights were cancelled at Shannon Airport after the controllers refused to work overtime. There was also disruption at Shannon earlier last Wednesday night and last month 32 flights at Dublin airport were also grounded by the dispute.
Since then there have been a number of hearings before the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in an attempt to resolve the dispute and talks resume again at the commission next Tuesday, February 19th.