An interim order restraining the Labour Court from proceeding tomorrow with a formal investigation into a row between Ryanair and a number of its pilots was secured by the airline this afternoon.
The restraining order granted by the Supreme Court applies pending the outcome of Ryanair's appeal against a recent High Court finding that there is a trade dispute between Ryanair and the trade union Impact and that the Labour Court has jurisdiction to investigate that.
The proposed investigation is being conducted under new industrial relations legislation which, Ryanair claims, is being used by pilots to achieve compulsory trade union recognition through "the back door".
Ms Justice Susan Denham, presiding over the three judge Supreme Court, said today that if the Labour Court investigation proceeded today, and the Supreme Court later upheld Ryanair's appeal, the time and expense of the Labour Court and other possible court hearings would have been wasted.