The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has appointed industrial relations expert Kieran Mulvey to mediate in a dispute that has blown up at the air traffic control manager and safety regulator.
A statement said that Mr Mulvey had been appointed by the IAA’s Internal Dispute Resolution Board to mediate between the company and trade union, Fórsa.
The dispute resolution board’s charter provides for the appointment of an independent mediator. Mr Mulvey will report back to its chairman, Peter McCloone, former general secretary of Impact trade union, within seven days.
“We look forward to co-operating fully with this mediation process and we request that the confidentiality of the process is now fully respected in order to allow Mr Mulvey to carry out his review,” said the IAA.
According to reports last month, 160 air traffic controllers wrote to Eamon Ryan, Minister for Transport, saying the IAA was relying too much on overtime and warning that this could become a safety issue.
The authority responded that it operated to “the highest standards” and fully complied at all times with European safety regulations.