Ryanair to resume Irish talks seen as key to ending wider strike

Talks between Ryanair Holdings and striking Irish pilots are set to resume Friday as the sides seek to reach an agreement that could hold the key to resolving a wider European dispute over pay and contracts. The discussions, mediated by labour relations veteran Kieran Mulvey, represent the best chance yet of halting walkouts that have weighed on Ryanair earnings and disrupted travel for thousands of people. While the strike spans Europe, a breakthrough in Ireland is seen as key to resolving the clash, since it was staff there who initiated a push for unionisation. “We are watching what is happening in Ireland and we are listening,” said the Swedish Air Line Pilots Association. “The demands are not that different at all. All Ryanair employees want the same thing -- normal things that employees have.” <br/>