Aer Lingus and pilots urged to ‘dig deep’ and resolve dispute

Taoiseach Simon Harris has asked Aer Lingus and the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) to “dig deep” in attempting to come to a resolution in their heated industrial dispute.

Around 35,000 passengers’ flights have been cancelled so far due to an indefinite work-to-rule due to begin on Wednesday and an eight-hour strike announced for Saturday.

There has been a sharp exchange of words between the airline and union, with both sides accusing the other of not engaging.

Ireland cabinet meeting — Taoiseach Simon Harris has said it is ‘absolutely vital’ that both sides engage (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

But both sides have agreed to attend separate meetings at the Labour Court on Tuesday to provide briefings on the industrial stand-off.

Mr Harris said it was “absolutely vital” that both sides engage in talks to find a resolution.

“My challenge to the parties now is to bring that engagement forward, rather than putting people through a prolonged period of agony and chaos, and then engaging in…