Varadkar brands Aer Lingus strike ‘unnecessary’

The Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has appealed to SIPTU to call off what he has called an "unnecessary" strike at Aer Lingus and the DAA.

Workers at the airline and Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports have said they are planning a four hour work stoppage on Friday, March 14, which could cause travel chaos for thousands of passengers over St Patrick's weekend.

Varadkar added the Government remains open to an intervention and said both unions and management should reach a compromise on the deficit in the pensions scheme.

However, he noted the union are the only party responsible for any disruption and are the only ones who can avert a disruption.