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Aer Lingus Pilots Call off Strike, Bertie Returns
Read more about: Fianna Fail, Government, Irish Politics, Kerry South 
Aer Lingus pilots have called of the strike after the two sides agreed to head to the Labour Relations Commission. Good news for travellers no matter what.
Also almost a month into the Shannon – LHR issue the Taoiseach takes his head from the Kenmare air to enter the fray. Its interesting to see the teflon tactics used again despite the clear lack of need for them. He spent quite a while studiously not being associated with either the privatisation (some would argue the core problem in this issue) or the reponse to the Aer Lingus decision.
Is this a sign of a man with one eye off the ball or are the utterings of those who will replace him suggestive of loyalty?
It looks like a classic Bertie pincer movement. Phil Flynn (who appears to be Ireland’s only industrial relations facilitator) plays the advantage for the pilots while giving Aer Lingus management a way out of their original strategy, and then the advisory committee to look into Shannon’s prospects. From Bertie’s perspective he’s defused the strike and separated the two issues. But I suspect the Shannon contingent will view the advisory committee as just a delaying tactic. O’Dea is most vulnerable to a squeeze with his Cabinet job — will be a very interesting few days.
Its a classic fianna fail fudge and forget move by bertie. Set up some feazibility or consultative study group and those complaining might fuck off and stop complaining, eventually forgetting about it.