Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on taking a company (details supplied) into public ownership as a commercial semi-State body if necessary to safeguard the 1,200 jobs that are currently under threat at the company and to protect the aircraft maintenance and engineering centre of excellence at Dublin Airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9582/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is anxious that as many jobs as possible are secured at Dublin Airport. We would like to see the SR Technics Group do what it can to facilitate this, such as helping to promote the capabilities and skills available at the Dublin facility, agreeing to an orderly wind down of the facility to give IDA Ireland an opportunity to promote the location to interested parties, and maintaining assets and equipment at the site for at least 6 months.

I have conveyed these points, and the widespread concern in Ireland that every effort be made to maintain the maximum number of jobs at the facility at Dublin Airport, to SR Technics at Group level.

There are a number of expressions of interest from different parties in acquiring at least elements of the business and both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are actively exploring options with interested parties. Time is needed to assess these proposals by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. Actual involvement by IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland in providing financial or other supports will be dependent on a company or companies submitting proposals for consideration and seeking approval for State support in the normal way.

It is not proposed to take the Irish operation into public ownership. The sector operates on the basis of a competitive market and the Dublin operation, whether publicly or privately owned, will have to compete on a level playing field with other companies in the same market.