Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

As the Ceann Comhairle knows, there have been two requests to his office and it is for him to decide on time availability for Adjournment debates and private notice questions. I note Deputy Ó Snodaigh has not changed since the time the two of us were in college.

The issue of SR Technics has been raised on a considerable number of occasions by members of the Opposition whom I have met privately, as well as by my colleagues on this side of the House. I agree it is serious. At the time I met the unions to discuss the matter. I have also met all the agencies involved. I set up a special project team between Enterprise Ireland and the IDA and employed a specialist in aviation to support the decision making to be made on the basis of a number of bids being made by Irish people who wished to invest. As the House knows, there have been extensive contacts made by me, my officials and agencies with SR Technics over a considerable period of time and I am extremely disappointed with the decision made last night. However, the company indicated that the bids received from the Dublin operations which were supported by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland were well below its assessment of the current market value of the assets. I understand it is still open to bids for the remaining parts of the business, including base maintenance, line maintenance, the garage and remaining tooling and equipment. It has indicated that it will accept bids in respect of base maintenance until Friday, 22 May and Wednesday, 27 May in respect of line maintenance and the garage.

I reiterate that I will continue to work with Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the DAA, as well as the remaining bidders and other interested parties, to maximise the available employment opportunities, in addition to the remaining 250 plus jobs in maintenance and design. We shall continue to endeavour to work to the best of our ability. The Government, through its agencies, has fulfilled its role and will continue to do so between now and the end of May.

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