Irish minister rejects Aer Rianta solution as crisis worsens. UPDATE: Strike called off

IRELAND. The fate of Aer Rianta, one of the world’s biggest airport and duty free companies, continues to cause massive political fall-out in Ireland. But an airports strike planned for tomorrow has been called off at the last minute.

The strike threat had come as Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan refused to give ground on his determination to break up the state-owned entity.

An Aer Rianta move to bridge the gap between the Government and unions over the future of the airports was rejected this week by Brennan.

The Aer Rianta board, at a special meeting in Dublin, decided to propose to Brennan that the company and the Department of Transport should begin working on producing business plans for Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports as stand-alone entities.

The Irish Times reported that the lack of such plans is at the root of outstanding union concerns about the viability of the three airports, and the security of jobs, once the break-up happens.

In a statement, the Aer Rianta board said that, on the basis of the proposal it had made, tomorrow’s two-hour stoppage at the three airports, due to begin at 8 a.m., should be deferred. Brennan quickly rejected the suggestion. He said business plans for the three airports were well advanced under the existing Aer Rianta structure.

However, the completion of plans for the three airports going forward must, in the final instance, remain the responsibility of the three new airport authorities, he said. “Such strategic plans can only be developed as the airports achieve full autonomy and have the freedom to develop independent plans and fresh strategies and initiatives.”

No mention was made of the fate of Aer Rianta International, the global duty free and airport operating arm.

Click here for our original story on the break-up.

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