Fears are growing that strike action could hit Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports just before the St. Patrick's weekend.

Fresh proposals were put together last week to try and resolve a row over pensions at the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and Aer Lingus. However it is reported today that strike notice could still be served next week.

Staff at the DAA have been seeking to have their employer deal with a deficit in the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS).

SIPTU members have already backed the plan. Now the trustees of a pension scheme which is jointly run across DAA and the airline are to try and hammer out new proposals, which it is hoped could avert problems.

Eamon McKeon of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation says strikes are an out-dated solution.