James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Tánaiste for coming into the House to respond to these Private Notice Questions. I welcome the fact that she will meet Michael O'Leary notwithstanding her earlier reluctance. Several issues have to be pointed out. Will the Minister explain value for money on the basis of a maintenance line that employs 95 people carrying out ordinary line maintenance work such as checking tyres, engine oil and various other mundane activities in hangar 6, which is 25,000 sq. m., 250,000 sq. ft.? They would be lost at one end of it. It is akin to putting a corner shop into a hypermarket. It is not value for money for the taxpayer. We have a picture today of an empty hangar 6. I accept that Aerospace has come in there and I welcome that and the 30 jobs it has created so far and its plans for more.

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