SIPTU strike action will damage tourist industry : IHF

Disruptive action at the country's airports and in the public transport sector will damage Ireland's tourism industry and put the welfare of many employed in the sector at risk.

The President of the Irish Hotels Federation said it was totally unacceptable that employees of a State company should hold the Irish tourism industry and the travelling public to ransom.

Dick Bourke has called for the urgent removal of the strike threat and said that any negative publicity would send out the wrong messages to Ireland's international markets.

He said today, "There is absolutely no doubt that the increased number of tourists who are in Ireland to celebrate St Patrick's Day, as well as ordinary Irish people trying to go about their business, will be the ones to bear the brunt of the planned transport stoppages.

"It is expected that this Aer Rianta stoppage alone will affect up to 50,000 travellers.

"The St Patrick's Day Festival constitutes the first major event in the Irish tourism season and any negative publicity of travel disruption sends out the wrong messages to our international markets," Bourke added.

Bourke also welcomed Transport Minister Seamus Brennan's decision to appoint the new board of Dublin airport and urged the Minister to move ahead with his plans to increase competition in this area.