Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

The 800 or 900 skilled men and women who are still unemployed and who are chasing after FÁS courses, back to education schemes and so on should be at the forefront of all our concerns. They, like me, believe that SR Technics did not need to close. It was unilaterally closed by Sheikh Mohammed Al-Maktoum in a very unfriendly act towards this country but we could still have that business. As the Minister is aware, day after day I made many representations to her and to the Taoiseach about this matter.

First, in regard to Ryanair, is it the case that this year, 2010, 150 jobs are being removed by Ryanair from its aviation operation, that last November 50 jobs were taken off the people on the desks and, therefore, within the past few months 200 jobs have been removed by Ryanair from Dublin Airport and other jobs at Cork and Shannon? Is it not the case that Michael O'Leary has stated that approximately 2,000 support jobs are also gone? In fact, Michael O'Leary has taken away approximately 2,200 of our jobs in the past few months. Will the Minister confirm if that is the case? I am taking that information from Ryanair's own statements.

I contacted him this time last year about working with SR Technics and taking over the workers' plan the Minister referred to, which I have in front of me and which I believe is a viable plan, but he did not seem to be interested. He demurred, for whatever reason, and as the year went on I understand there were 30 expressions of interest in the equipment. Is it the case that Michael O'Leary did not put in an expression of interest for the equipment of SR Technics? That was my understanding at the time. There were two major expressions of interest, of which he was one, last August but he seems to have proceeded with his plan to base 400 jobs and 2,000 support jobs at Prestwick and not at Dublin or Shannon, which would be another important venue for Dublin Aerospace. I make many representations to the Minister and have met her to discuss the establishment of Dublin Aerospace. Is it the case that Michael O'Leary did not take an interest throughout much of last year in the moves being made to save the jobs before everybody left that premises?

Regarding terminal 6, I have in front of me the actual lease Michael O'Leary has on another terminal in which he states:

... in the event of the licensor so exercising its right to relocate the Licence Area in accordance with this Schedule 2, the licensor shall, if required by the licensee, relocate the licensee to an alternative area of similar size and condition elsewhere in Dublin Airport.

That is Ryanair's lease, as I understand it, but I also understand that he took the DAA to court about this and established some sort of a lien over that particular premises. We have seen terminal 6, and in Mr. O'Leary's photographs from today I can see an AP unit in the back of the hangar. I understand that currently there are four or five hangars which are empty, and all that equipment I referred to was removed by the Arabs and taken back to Dubai and to Malta. Is it the case, therefore, that there is plenty of space for establishing a mighty aviation maintenance company if the Minister so desired? Is it the case that could simply be done?

I would like to see these jobs restored but I chased Ryanair, as I chased Aer Lingus, Aer Arann, the DAA and everybody, as did some of the colleagues in the House who were with me at some of those meetings, to protect SR Technics. If a procedure goes forward it is incumbent on us to ensure that it is a serious procedure to create jobs and not something that generates a great deal of publicity while covering up the fact that so many jobs have been lost. I understand Ryanair has got rid of three aeroplanes and that turnaround times are down. Mr. O'Leary blames the travel tax for the latter, a tax to which I am opposed. As I said, I hope this is a serious proposal and that space will be allowed to pursue it. The most important consideration is the more than 800 people, some of whom are in their mid-40s to late 50s and all of whom are highly skilled, who are left desolate since the closure of SR Technics. Ireland is a world leader in aircraft maintenance, as acknowledged by the United States, but we did not get a chance to prove it in this instance. I urge the Tánaiste to see what can be done to advance this proposal on a serious footing.

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