EVEN as a formal and expensive tribunal of inquiry is under way, the issue of the airport firefighters is close to descending into farce.

Those responsible for brokering a ‘secret Santa’ deal valued at more than £5,000 by those familiar with it now face being questioned in the States because they are trying to keep the details hidden.

Yet if this is an honest settlement reasonably reached, then both parties should be happy to discuss what has been agreed and why.

If, on the other hand, this was the Public Sector Remuneration Committee simply buying off a militant group with the industrial muscle to close the airport, then there would be reason to try to keep quiet about it.

There is certainly much to question.

In its formal release last week on the settlement, PSRC and Public Services, which is responsible for the ports, said the deal guarantees no further industrial action. Or does it? The actual wording is ‘no repeat of the industrial action that closed Guernsey Airport in May’.

That merely means the men and Unite, their union, have agreed not to close the airport in any row over shift cover but retain the right to create mayhem over any other issue. So is there actually a real ‘no strike’ clause in place now that the taxpayer has financed an 18% deal? If so, that might be money well spent.

Yet arguably a ‘no strike’ agreement was already in place since to withdraw their labour left the men in breach of contract because there is no immunity here for trades unions taking industrial action.

The way the settlement was reached also begs questions. The two officials who were instrumental in earlier discussions have been taken off the talks, presumably because they did not believe the firefighters had a case. Certainly when the airport closed, Public Services was all for standing firm and not giving in to the men.

What has since changed and has pressure been applied to the PSD minister to give in to a demand that was earlier rejected as unreasonable?

The other question is what effect this will have on pension costs. With a massively enhanced scheme because of their short working career, a £5,000 pay rise adding to a final salary, index linked pension represents a burden of hundreds of thousands of pounds to the taxpayer.

The PSRC really does have to explain why this is a good deal – if, indeed, it can.