The Transport Minister says he believes the planned stoppage at Aer Lingus, as well as Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports, is 'deliberately timed to cause maximum disruption to tourists'.

SIPTU says its workers will down tools between 5 am until 9 am on one Friday 14th March, ahead of the St Patrick's Bank Holiday weekend.

The unions says the move follows the company's failure to engage in meaningful discussion on its pension deficit.

Minister Varadkar says he wants to see the move called off.