Inis Meáin without air service

A pay dispute among airport workers on Inis Meáin has led to the cancellation of flights to and from the island.

A pay dispute among airport workers on Inis Meáin has led to the cancellation of flights to and from the island.

The island, which is one of the Aran Islands, has been without air service since last Friday after Aer Arann took the decision not to land because of a shortage of airport staff.

The airline suspended its six daily flights to and from the island after the four airport staff withdrew their services.

The staff on the airstrip are in dispute with their employer, Comharchumann Inis Meáin Teoranta, which has been unable to pay them

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The company also runs the Inis Meáin desalination plant, which provides the island's drinking water. Staff at the  plant have also said they will not work without pay.

Earlier today, the island's water supply was cut off, but Údarás na Gaeltachta confirmed tonight the supply was turned back on.

Tarlach de Blacem, managing director of Inis Meáin Knitting Company, said the island’s water supply was cut off this morning.

“I have a very specialist cashmere washing plant and I’m unable to run it. I have 15 people wanting to use the loo from time to time. I’m going to have to decide what we’re going to do because obviously if we’ve no water we can’t operate”.

Mr de Blacem said: “It’s difficult enough to operate an international fashion business from an offshore island but it’s doubly difficult when you have these sorts of problems arising”.