James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Nonetheless it is true, and I am sure Deputy Kennedy will agree, Aerospace does not own any aeroplanes, it has to go out and seek the business. Ryanair, on the other hand, has 230 aircraft, rising, it hopes, very shortly to 300. It is the largest airline in the world, certainly in Europe. Aer Lingus has 31 planes.

The Minister said she would continue working and went through a long list of engagements. I put it to her that her approach to date is not working. It did not work with SR Technics the first time around, it did not work with Dell and it is not working with Ryanair to date. There is no legal impediment to the lease and the Minister is aware of that. There is a facility for Dublin Airport Authority to move a lessor from one part of the campus to another. It has been pointed out that 12 months notice might be required. That is a matter that is very easily negotiated and I have no doubt it has been done numerous times before.

I put it to the Tánaiste that in Michael O'Leary we have a "can do" businessman and what we need now is a "can do" Tánaiste to look after our workers who face a very difficult and uncertain future, and our country's economy because we are facing the loss of a national industry in aircraft maintenance, one in which we were leaders, and no stone should be left unturned. A new approach must be taken because this opportunity cannot be lost and nobody in this House will be forgiven if we let it go. I implore the Tánaiste to adopt a new approach with a fresh attitude to ensure we get these jobs.

I met Mr. O'Leary this morning, as did others. In his discussion on Dublin's Q102 with Deputy Darragh O'Brien who has expressed a lack of happiness with the manner in which this matter has been handled to date, he is hoping for a new approach. I share that hope as would all the people of Dublin North, all the workers and their families. I believe Michael O'Leary is serious about this issue. He may have other agendas as well, as I am sure he does, but when his agenda is confluent with our agenda in the creation of jobs we should do everything possible to ensure we conclude this matter in a successful fashion.

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