TÁNAISTE AND Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan has said there has been a number of expressions of interest from parties interested in taking over the SR Technics (SRT) aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin airport.
She said the parties were interested in purchasing all or part of the business as a going concern.
Last week, SRT announced it was closing its operation at Dublin airport with the loss of 1,100 jobs.
Speaking after a meeting with trade unions yesterday, Ms Coughlan said everything that could be done would be done to retain the maximum number of jobs at SRT. She said State agencies would be following up on the expressions of interest.
Speaking after the meeting, Willie Quigley of trade union Unite said it appeared Ms Coughlan was already working with the IDA on avenues to secure the future of the SRT facility.
The trade unions are due to meet with SRT management today. Mr Quigley said he expected management would want to discuss redundancy terms.
However, he said the unions were more concerned with having an opportunity to explore saving as many jobs as possible.
SR Technics, which was formerly known as FLS, Team Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Maintenance, lost three aircraft maintenance contracts with Aer Lingus last year. Earlier this month, Gulf Air announced it was ending its maintenance contract with the firm as and from June.
Speaking before the meeting with the Tánaiste, Siptu branch organiser Pat Ward said he believed the SR Technics management team in Dublin had produced a plan that would have ensured the continued operation of the plant on a viable basis but this had not been given the light of day by senior management in Switzerland.
“I understand the Tánaiste has a copy of that plan and we are hoping she will be able to say whether she believes it could form the basis for further negotiations with SR Technics or other interested parties.
“We will also continue to lobby for Aer Lingus to become involved in rescuing these jobs. SR Technics is as integral a part of our aviation sector as the airline.
“Given the scale and quality of employment at risk here, along with its strategic importance to the Dublin region, and to the country as a whole, we hope that the Government and all of the political parties put their shoulders to the wheel in helping us find a solution,” said Mr Ward.
“We are also giving comprehensive consideration to an alternative plan to save these jobs,” he added.