The High Court has granted an injunction preventing industrial action at Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports ahead of St. Patrick's Day.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and Ryanair argued that a planned four-hour work stoppage by SIPTU this Friday would cost them millions of euro and disrupt thousands of passengers.

The DAA contended the aim of SIPTU was to shut down the main airports here ahead of the busy St. Patrick's Day weekend.

Paul O'Kane of the DAA has welcomed today's decision

The union had voted for industrial action over concerns about cuts to the joint pension scheme at the DAA and Aer Lingus.

The High Court has blocked a planned four-hour work stoppage for Friday because of the disruption it would cause and due to concerns about the validity of the SIPTU ballot.

The DAA has welcomed the injunction, but Declan Kearney of Aer Lingus says the airline may still be hit with industrial action.

Dermot O'Loughlin from SIPTU would not be drawn about a possible stoppage at Aer Lingus.

The DAA is now calling on SIPTU to seek a resolution to the pension issue through a newly established expert panel.

Paul O'Kane of the DAA is meanwhile welcoming the High Court ruling against the work stoppage.