Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The key point concerns the reporting to the Department by the Dublin Airport Authority. This is where the communication did not take place. The authority is under the aegis of the Department. It is somewhat like the case in Shannon, in respect of which the Minister was not told the details directly. In this case, the fact is that there will be a very serious impact on the future of jobs in the aerospace industry. The jobs are extremely important and the staff are very highly qualified. No man or woman who will walk the line tomorrow and lose his or her job would ever have believed such an incredible amount of knowledge would be leaving this country. If it goes, it may never be replaced.

Does the Minister believe it satisfactory that he was not told what was taking place by the Dublin Airport Authority? Is this credible given the critical loss of the plant, as now appears to be the outcome? Is it acceptable that this fact was not reported to the Minister, notwithstanding all the other issues he raised. There is no point in being in Government if one does not know the full facts.

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