SIPTU has confirmed that Thursday's strike action at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports has been suspended following assurances received from the Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach had written to the union in response to queries from the union's president Jack O'Connor. Efforts are underway to resolve the dispute affecting bus and rail services, but this is still planned.
In the High Court this morning, Ryanair was expected to bring an application to try to stop the industrial action at Dublin Airport.
But counsel for SIPTU revealed that in the light of very specific assurances from the Taoiseach SIPTU was postponing the planned action and further shutdowns planned on April 2, 20 and 26.
The Taoiseach has confirmed that the Government will engage with the trade unions on measures to ensure standards of employment are protected and will honour the commitment given by the Minister for Transport regarding a reasonable opportunity for the trade unions and their advisors to examine and respond to financial and other information regarding the restructuring of Aer Rianta within a definite time frame.
Counsel for Ryanair said the company was content that SIPTU had 'seen sense'. But Brian O'Moore said Ryanair was concerned that it, a private party, had to take these proceedings in what was a nakedly political dispute. He added that the court had not been told the dispute was finally resolved and he wanted to take instructions from his client as to whether it wanted to proceed with an expedited hearing of its full proceedings against SIPTU.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly adjourned the matter to March 25. At that time SIPTU can bring a motion to have the proceedings struck out.
Iarnród Éireann said at 5pm this evening that all passenger and freight services will be cancelled this Thursday.
The company has advised customers that it cannot guarantee any services across InterCity, DART and Commuter on Thursday 18 March, due to threatened unofficial action by SIPTU. Services are expected to return to normal on Friday 19 March.
*Service updates are available on the Iarnród Éireann website www.irishrail.ie and an Iarnród Éireann information line, 1850 366222, will be open tomorrow from 10am to 8pm and on Thursday from 07.00am.
