Taoiseach Brian Cowen has urged both sides in the air traffic controllers’ dispute to use the industrial relations mechanisms available to resolve it.
Mr Cowen told the Dáil this morning it was important that the matter be resolved as quickly as possible.
"There is industrial relations machinery available to assist. The Labour Court is available to assist. That's always the case when something like this happens," he said.
"Obviously, with an essential service like this, one would hope that both sides would abide by the code of conduct and the procedures that are in place in relation to these matters.
"But I do believe it is important, given the inconvenience that's now going to be visited on people travelling in our airports today, and in the effort to avoid further escalation, I think it is incumbent on both sides to use the industrial relations machinery which is available in order to resolve whatever problems have arisen.
“Certainly, I agree that in situations such as this we shouldn't see the travelling public inconvenienced as a result of whatever differences of opinion exist..."
He was responding to Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore, who noted there was no mechanism for dealing with such a dispute since the collapse of the partnership process.
In the past the National Implementation Body (NIB), the State’s main troubleshooting mechanism under social partnership, would have intervened in such a dispute.
In a statement this afternoon, Minister for Trade and Commerce Billy Kelleher appealed to both sides to “pull back from the brink” to avoid further damage to Ireland’s international economic reputation.
He warned that if the dispute becomes protracted, it could have huge implications for Irish jobs. “While people may have legitimate concerns, every other means should be used to address their grievances rather than discommoding up to 20,000 members of the travelling public and further undermining Ireland’s economic viability and reputation,” he said.
Ibec said today there was no justification for the industrial action. Director Brendan McGinty said air traffic controllers are highly paid and enjoy benefits far beyond those of most workers. “It is outrageous that the public is being held to ransom in this way,” he said.
"It is clear that a resolution can only be explored in a calm and normal working environment with the assistance of the state dispute resolution bodies," he added.