Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

In the short time available I will not get into an argument with the Minister on this issue, except to say the workers have a different perspective, wide knowledge of the industry, skills and so on. They tell me there could be a glut of the engines in which they specialise in the market soon and that work could be done in Rathcoole but not if the plant is stripped down. I appeal to the Minister to meet the workers and hear their side of the story to see if there is anything that can be done. The Government is a stakeholder in the aircraft industry and these were Aer Lingus workers. It seems that where there is a general commitment from the Government to this industry and maintain the skilled jobs in it, we must do everything we can to see if these skilled jobs can be maintained.

What can we do to fill the pension deficit about which the workers are very concerned, given that a large sum of public money was given to Lufthansa? Can we put pressure on it to fill that gap? Can the State intervene in some way? I urge the Minister to meet the workers to discuss what can be done.

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