Ryanair News

 
News Release
21.01.10

Ryanair Calls on “Do Little” Dempsey to End Continuing ATC “Work to Rule” Disruptions

 
 
Ryanair, Ireland’s largest airline, today (21 Jan 10) called on Minister for Transport, Noel “Do Little” Dempsey to call on Ireland’s Air Traffic Controllers to resume normal working and end today’s “work to rule” disruptions which airlines and passengers are suffering in Dublin.
 
Having closed Ireland’s three main airports yesterday, and received a barrage of negative publicity, the Air Traffic Controllers have this morning returned to work, but are engaged in further “work to rule” disruptions of flights by various means including:
 
·        Delaying aircraft push-backs.
·        Failing to give aircraft direct routings, sending them instead into hold patterns.
·        Failing to cover sickness, which will lead to further ATC short staffing, flight delays and disruptions.
 
Ryanair has today lodged an official complaint with the Irish Aviation Authority, calling for an end to these “work to rule” delays. 
 
Ryanair calls again on Minister Dempsey to explain why he failed to order the Air Traffic Controllers to go back to work yesterday, why he failed to call in the Military ATC Controllers in Baldonnel to keep the main runway at Dublin Airport open and why he has – as usual – done nothing during a transport crisis, except sit on his hands and waffle.
 
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:
 
“Minister for Transport, Noel “Do Little” Dempsey should stop ducking confrontation with these public sector workers and their trade union, and order the Air Traffic Controllers to go back to work, or otherwise dismiss them. Minister Dempsey was “missing in Malta” during the recent snow disruptions, his only contribution to air transport in recent weeks has been to order the Regulator to increase Dublin Airport’s fees by 40%. Now when the Air Traffic Controllers engage in industrial blackmail by shutting Ireland’s main airports yesterday, and delaying and disrupting more flights today, he continues to do nothing but waffle. The time for “talking” with over-paid, under-worked Air Traffic Controllers is over, it’s time Minister Dempsey removed their right to strike and imposed the same no strike clause as the Garda Siochana.
 
“The fact that all of Ireland’s airports can be closed at the whim by over-paid, under-worked Air Traffic Controllers further damages Ireland’s reputation abroad. The continuing delays and disruptions as a result of today’s work to rule are equally unacceptable, and Minister Dempsey should get up off his backside and support the Irish Aviation Authority in opposing this industrial blackmail or resign. 
 
“If “Do Little” Dempsey is not prepared to provide leadership, then he should provide his resignation and allow somebody competent to put an end to this industrial relations blackmail by an out of control over-paid public sector trade union.”
 

 
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