Work stoppages at the country’s main airports have been called off as unions and management enter crunch talks over a pensions row.

The Board of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) have this evening appointed Kevin Toland as the company’s new chief executive.

SIPTU says its members have decided to proceed with industrial action at Aer Lingus and at the country's main airports from next Monday.

SIPTU president Jack O'Connor has said that he is making no apologies to passengers regarding the threatened strike action at Dublin Cork and Shannon airports next week.

The SIPTU union has rejected what it has labelled as a "derisory" offer by Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority to resolve the €750m deficit in their staff pension funds.

Aer Lingus passengers are facing disruption next month after talks between SIPTU and management at the airline broke down last night.

The boss of Ryanair is under fire after launching a verbal attack on the Government's 'The Gathering' tourism promotion, and on the Dublin Airport Authority.

The Government has said today that the separation of Shannon Airport from Dublin Airport Authority will create 850 jobs.

The Government has said it intends to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority on December 31.

Dublin Airport Authority is to ask the High Court next Friday to restrain threatened industrial action by SIPTU that would effectively close down Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports.

Talks will resume today at the Labour Relations Commission between SIPTU and the Dublin Airport Authority in a bid to resolve a row over pensions.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has challenged more airlines to follow suit following the news that Ryanair is to add eight new routes to continental Europe from Shannon Airport today.

Major delays are expected at airports around the country this morning following severe weather overnight.

A passenger plane has been forced to make an emergency landing at Dublin Airport, after smoke was reported in the cockpit.

Dublin Airport is warning that a threatened strike by French air traffic controllers may affect flights tomorrow.

Almost 2.2 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport in August - an 8% increase on the same period last year.

Ryanair is to open nine new routes from Dublin and increase frequencies on eight existing routes, the airline announced today.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has announced that an independent audit of its security arrangements will be carried in the next three weeks.

It is thought the Cabinet is about to approve a second terminal for Dublin Airport run by DAA.

The future of the Great Southern Hotel group should be protected as the foundation stone of Irish tourism, it was claimed today.