TRANSPORT MINISTER DARRAGH O’Brien has said negotiations are taking place to avoid further repeats of Ireland’s airspace being shut down following a spate of incidents this year.

O’Brien said talks are taking place between management of air traffic firm AirNav Ireland and union officials to work issues around staffing levels in a bid to avoid further closures.

Dublin Airport’s airspace was forced to close at intervals in the early hours of yesterday morning due to staffing issues at air traffic firm AirNav Ireland, while Cork Airport had to close its own in the early hours of Wednesday because just one air traffic controller phoned in sick.

It is understood that a desperate shortage of controllers – globally, not just in Ireland – is behind the closures.

AirNav Ireland is responsible for providing air traffic management services in the 451,000 km2 of airspace controlled by Ireland.

In a statement this afternoon, the Transport Minister said that he was “paying close attention” to the issue.

“Our primary focus is on ensuring the smooth operation of our airports and minimising disruption to passengers,” O’Brien said.

“The priority for AirNav is the safe operation of Irish airspace.”

O’Brien added that AirNav is currently engaging with the Fórsa union on “issues such as staffing levels through the company’s internal dispute resolution board mechanism” as part of this process.

“That process must be respected and allowed to run its course. It would be inappropriate to comment further while that engagement is underway,” O’Brien added.

With reporting by Niall O’Connor and Emma Hickey