Ryanair's director of human resources, strategy and operations has rejected claims the airline's pilot representative system for negotiating pay and conditions was a sham.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has denied he once described pilots as "overpaid underworked peacocks".

Channel 4 is entitled to claim journalistic privilege over sources for a TV programme which Ryanair says is defamatory, a High Court judge has ruled.

The union which co-ordinated the Dunnes Stores strike has welcomed news that collective bargaining legislation could be enacted within months.

The Ryanair pilot sacked just days after he took part in a Channel 4 programme criticising the airline is to “seek legal advice on his options”.

Ryanair has been accused of intimidating pilots who raise safety concerns and of not having a “transparent safety culture”.