Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It was almost two years ago that SRT management came to me indicating grave concerns about the viability of the company. Through Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, I supported the organisation but unfortunately the new CEO and the board decided not to continue in Dublin. We then worked with all interested people to ensure replacement jobs were created. I personally worked closely with Dublin Aerospace and the management group that approached me for support in establishing a new maintenance operation. We had a number of smaller successes and I am glad that last week the DAA was in a position to sign another contract for 123 jobs in Dublin Airport. There has been considerable work done and many of those who were working with SRT will have the capacity to be employed there. I have been working vociferously and personally on a number of occasions and I have used my political position as Tánaiste in working with the Government of Abu Dhabi to ensure we had access and could deal with the requirements of Dublin Aerospace.

With regard to the European globalisation fund, the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, met the Commissioner yesterday to discuss the matter. We had to submit complicated responses to the Commission and I hope to meet the Commissioner myself with the Minister of State to pursue the matter as vigorously and as expeditiously as humanly possible.

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