Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader, Senator Cassidy, to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Coughlan, to the House to discuss how an early warning system might be established in co-operation with employers and organisations such as IBEC and ICTU to identify employers who are considering redundancies but who have not yet made a formal or public decision on the matter. The resources of the State could be made available by offering the assistance of the IDA, for example. I believe former senior officials, some of whom are linked to Members of this House and who have tremendous experience, would be available to assist in advising the State on whether it would be worthwhile taking an equity stake in some of those firms to preserve jobs at this critical time. The portfolio of the State is quite clear in respect of investing in the banks. However, there is a great case for investing in SR Technics, formerly a State-owned operation known as Team Aer Lingus. It seems logical to invest in a company of its quality and size located at Dublin Airport, servicing aeroplanes from airlines around the world. It is a great disappointment that a semi-State owned company, Aer Lingus, should transfer its business. This company is vital for the future of the industry and for airlines. We should be involved in a company that has an impeccable record of safety in servicing aeroplanes from Aer Lingus and other international airlines.