This morning, pilots at Aer Lingus started industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule. As a consequence, Aer Lingus has already cancelled almost 300 flights with more to follow. The impact of the work-to-rule and specifically the ban on overtime is difficult to predict and passengers have been warned that their flights may be cancelled right up to the moment they arrive at the departure gates. This has upended the holiday plans of tens of thousands of workers and families, many of whom can scarcely afford to rearrange these plans. Let us be honest; people have worked hard all year. They have booked their annual leave, their two weeks off, and are now faced with the prospect of having to tell their employers that they may need more annual leave and, more importantly, having to tell the kids that the holiday is cancelled. They have been looking forward to this all year.

Many in our tourism sector are extremely concerned. This industrial action presents the prospect of serious problems for our economy and for our connectivity as an island. We are only a small island. Connectivity is absolutely everything. The consequences of this industrial action will be wide-ranging. Those working in the tourism sector will tell you that they have seen a slowdown in bookings for weeks and that they are now braced for cancellations. They are only just getting back on their feet after the Covid pandemic and all of the other challenges they have faced in the recent past. They need a good season this year.

The overdependence on overtime in Aer Lingus means that the impact of a work-to-rule could be almost as disruptive as that of a full strike, which we know will be happening on Saturday unless there is a resolution. This is not a run-of-the-mill industrial relations dispute. It is a matter of significant national importance. The hands-off approach that the Government has taken to helping to achieve a resolution up to now has been disappointing to say the least. In fact, it is a dereliction of the Government's duty to passengers and businesses alike. We have been raising this issue for weeks now. A week ago, I wrote to the Taoiseach urging him to make a decisive intervention. I got a holding reply but, as of yet, I have not had an answer. This is not good enough at all. The Labour Court was only going to intervene if there was a reasonable prospect of it being able to mediate a resolution. I do not believe this was ever likely. This was pointed out in the Dáil last Thursday and confirmed by the Labour Court yesterday.

It is incumbent on the Government to intervene now. Given the seriousness of this dispute for families and for the wider economy, there is a need for the Minister for enterprise and the Minister for Transport to engage in a constructive manner to get all sides around the table immediately. Every influence needs to be brought to bear to turn things around and to ensure a resolution. The key is getting both parties at the table with meaningful objectives and a willingness to strike an agreement. This is far too important not to intervene. It is far too serious to simply look the other way. The Minister has to accept that her Government's hands-off approach up to now is not working.

What does the Government plan to do to ensure this dispute is resolved speedily? I am fairly sure the Minister's constituency office is as busy as mine. People are starting to ring. They want to know what the Government is prepared to do. Is it prepared to take any action to ensure that the parties are brought around the table and that a resolution is reached? There is less than three days left to avert the strike action that is to take place this coming Saturday. People are watching. They want to know whether the Government intends to intervene or whether it will simply stand by and watch as thousands of people have their holiday plans ruined and as people in the tourism sector face into a very uncertain season.

Before I answer the question, would the Ceann Comhairle mind if I paid a short tribute to the late Tommie Gorman? It was with shock and sadness that we learned of Tommie's sudden passing yesterday. He was a true professional and an absolute gentleman. Outside of his job as an RTÉ correspondent, he had a genuine interest in the Northern Ireland peace process. Even though he was retired, he continued to build relationships and break down barriers. Nobody was more committed to public service broadcasting. It was with great pride that he showed a number of us in this House around the grounds of his beloved Sligo Rovers. He also showed us the club's ambitious plans for the future. I am sure he will be steering the plans from on high. I extend our sympathies to his family. What can I say other than "Goodbye" to Tommie, our pal?

I will now address the question the Deputy has raised.

I fully understand how frustrating and upsetting it is for many people who are now potentially unable to go on holiday, get married or travel for important work reasons. Yesterday, the Labour Court met each party for a briefing on their perspectives. It does not believe at this time that any efforts on its part will assist the parties in finding a resolution to their dispute. The Labour Court remains available to the parties and the situation will be reviewed comprehensively on Monday, 1 July. The court has urged the parties to desist from any further escalation of the dispute in the meantime. The Labour Court was jointly requested to investigate this trade dispute by Aer Lingus and the Fórsa trade union. That happened, and I understand that on 23 May it issued an interim recommendation to stabilise the situation while engagement continued. The interim recommendation of the court was, as I understand it, rejected by the Fórsa trade union. The court remains available to the parties and has urged them to desist from any further escalation of the dispute in the meantime.

I understand how difficult it is for people. We all know once Christmas is over people start saving for that summer holiday. They save every week, sometimes in the local credit union. I often saw the case where the children would come in with the money because they were so excited about going on their summer holidays. It is awful for parents to have to break the news to their children that they cannot go. My heart goes out to them, it really does. The Government is doing everything we can. We are using the industrial relations machinery, which the Deputy well knows is the mechanism whereby these disputes are resolved. The Taoiseach met union and employer representatives on Monday through the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, and took the opportunity to highlight the Government's concerns about the economic, consumer and reputational impact of the industrial dispute. I urge all parties to encourage Aer Lingus and the Irish Air Line Pilots Association to engage with the industrial relations machinery of the State to reach a negotiated outcome. Intensive efforts must be made by both parties to avoid further disruption that impacts the travelling public and the wider economy. I hope both sides will maximise the opportunity that is there in the Labour Court. I urge them to get back to the table.

Well said.

With the greatest of respect to the Taoiseach, whatever it was he said on Monday did not work because the industrial action started at one minute past midnight today. As the Minister rightly said, people are facing into a chaotic summer now. They have spent all year working hard, they have spent all this time saving up and they are looking in now. The Minister tells me her heart goes out to them, and mine does too, but I put a fairly simple question to her, namely, what is her Government prepared to do? She said in her response the Government is doing everything it can. Is the Minister telling me genuinely that everything it can do amounts simply to her saying her heart goes out to them? People would like to see some decisive action from the Government. They are looking for leadership from the Government and want to see a high-level intervention. As I said in my opening remarks, this is not a run-of-the-mill dispute. It is not an ordinary, common-or-garden industrial relations dispute. It is a dispute that threatens connectivity and that is why it is a matter for the Government. People do not want to hear sympathetic words. They want to know what it is the Minister and her Government are prepared to do to help them.

The Deputy knows better than most that we have very good industrial relations machinery within this State. The Labour Court intervened and it has a long history of resolving disputes, as the Deputy and I know well. This dispute will be resolved. They are always resolved in the end, but it is about the pain people have to go through in the interim. We are committed and we have asked the parties to go back to the Labour Court. What we need here is cool heads. We need to leave the egos at the door and get back into the negotiating room. I am saying that to both parties. If everyone sticks to their own position, we will never find a solution. As the Deputy and I know, a solution will be found, but I am thinking, as she is, of those who cannot go on their holidays. I am saying to both parties that they should start talking. This will be resolved. They should use the mechanism that is there, which is the Labour Court. There has to be compromise; they have to talk. It is concerning that the Labour Court met both parties yesterday and they were too far apart. They should get back to the table and resolve this issue. There is a solution. There is always a solution.

Hear, hear.