Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will support the case of a person (details supplied). [42881/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A key issue in respect of selection for redundancy is that the selection process must be seen to be fair and non-discriminatory. Should an individual feel that they have been unfairly dismissed by reason of unfair selection for redundancy, it is open to that individual to take a case to the Rights Commissioners or to the Employment Appeals Tribunal under the Unfair Dismissals Acts.

The Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977 to 2007 generally apply to any employee who has 12 months continuous service with the employer. In the case of a complaint referred to a Rights Commissioner, the employer may object and in that event the matter will be heard by the Employment Appeals Tribunal. If the employee has any further queries in this regard, they may contact the National Employment Rights Authority on their Lo-call number 1890 80 80 90 or via their website at www.employmentrights.ie

IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland established a team to market the operation internationally through their overseas office network and received over 16 expressions of interest in the facility. The team contacted the companies to evaluate their level of interest in the operation and to encourage them to put forward investment proposals to take over all or part of the operation.

Also, SR Technics received over 30 expressions of interest in the operation and received five bids from interested parties for parts of the business and carried out their assessment on those bids. I understand that SR Technics considered that the bids received were well below their assessment of the market value of the assets.

Subsequently, SR Technics reached a provisional agreement with a bidder for the sale of the APU and Landing Gear assets. However the bidder planned to remove the assets from the country, which would have had a terminal effect on the continuation of an MRO business in Dublin.

Following my intervention, the decision was reversed by SR Technics. Subsequently, a bid from Dublin Aerospace Limited, an Irish based company, for the APU and Landing Gear assets was accepted.

On 2nd September, I announced the establishment of Dublin Aerospace Ltd – a new aviation maintenance provider at Dublin Airport which is planned to provide 226 jobs within five years with the support of the Government through Enterprise Ireland.

Dublin Aerospace aims to establish a best-in-class Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Dublin Airport, servicing APUs, Landing Gear, Base Maintenance and Training.

The Garage business unit of SR Technics has been taken over by the M50 Truck and Van Centre who were successful in securing the airside vehicle maintenance contract from SR Technics.

I understand that SR Technics will continue to operate the Line Maintenance contract for Aer Lingus until a suitable acceptable operator is agreed between both companies.