Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

My approach to all job creation opportunities is that a point of first contact is made with the relevant agencies, whether Enterprise Ireland, the IDA or Údarás na Gaeltachta. This point of contact is most appropriate in dealing with commercially sensitive issues which arise with regard to any company that wishes to come to this country. I take exactly the same approach to working with IDA companies as I do to indigenous companies.

In the context of what took place in SR Technics, about which the House had many discussions, including, I believe, a Private Notice question, I met union representatives and worked with the proposed memorandum of understanding. Unfortunately, the proposal was not successful on the basis that it required people to forego their entire redundancy payments and access to venture capital was difficult. That being said, the group set up to support aviation worked with the organisation and groups in question. I also met many Deputies to discuss the matter.

I was personally involved on a number of occasions with Dublin Aerospace. Diplomatic efforts were required from the Minister for Foreign Affairs to facilitate conversations with the Government of Abu Dhabi. The express wish of the sovereign Government of Ireland, to support the facilitation and containment of jobs in this country, was realised with clear investment from the Government, including through State agencies.

We set up the organisation in question. It is working well and we wish it well in the expectation and anticipation that the contracts it has won thus far will clearly embed it in Dublin. Additional considerations and discussions on further development in the airport arising from the loss of jobs at SR Technics are taking place, although I am not yet in a position to outline them to the House. As I stated, I take the same hands-on approach to all companies, whether they are clients of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland or county enterprise boards, while my colleague deals with Údarás na Gaeltachta.

It is important in terms of the public mind to reiterate that I and the agencies I represent, in consultation and discussion with the DAA and Minister for Transport, constantly support new investment opportunities in the airport. We are being as fair and reasonable as we can be to Ryanair. I look forward to examining the company's business plan, which we have not seen thus far, and proposals to create an additional 300 jobs in order that we may determine whether we are in a position to support the company either, as stated in the letter of last September, through the facilitation of its enterprise in the existing hangar complement or the provision of a new build similar to that being provided by the Scottish authorities. As with all other Deputies, I am more than willing to support this but it can only be done within the realms of possibility rather than probability. in the context of any job opportunities that may arise my agencies, the first point of contact regarding all job creation opportunities, will continue to be available, as will I and my colleagues who have also been available to Members.

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