It has emerged that industrial relations consultant Phil Flynn who adjudicated over talks on Aer Lingus's plans to set up new bases outside the Republic was not aware of the airline's plans to move operations to Belfast.
In a written response to a query made by the Irish Air Line Pilots Association (Ialpa) Mr Flynn said he would probably have recommended that any concerns about such a move should be dealt with through joint discussions.
Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion said this week that a report produced by Mr Flynn under the auspices of the Labour Court recommended the company should be allowed to recruit staff at new bases on local market rates.
The airline says that at the time of the report that it had yet to decide on a location for its new base.
However Mr Flynn made his remarks in reply to a request by Ialpa for him to clarify the situation.
Ialpa said Mr Flynn's statement vindicates its position that the Belfast base does not come under the terms of the Flynn Report, and undermines Aer Lingus' claims that it does. President Evan Cullen call on Aer Lingus to reconsiders its offer for talks to negotiate on the terms and conditions for the Belfast jobs.
Additional reporting: PA