Ryanair imposing 'significant conditions', says Coughlan

RYANAIR WAS “imposing significant conditions” relating to possible plans to create 300 maintenance jobs at Dublin airport, Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan told the Dáil.

She was speaking in advance of her meeting with Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary.

Ms Coughlan said that one condition – the refusal to talk to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) – was difficult but perhaps not impossible to meet. She would do everything possible to find a way around it. “However, the second condition – that they must have Hangar 6 – is quite simply much more problematical,” she added.

“Hangar 6 is simply not available: it is licensed to Aer Lingus. However, Ryanair can do in Dublin exactly what it is doing in Prestwick – build a hangar at the airport to accommodate a maintenance operation.” She strongly urged Mr O’Leary to re-engage in discussions on the available options for establishing a Ryanair maintenance operation at the airport.

“As Michael O’Leary appears to accept, there is a wealth of skills available to support such an operation at Dublin airport, and I believe that, with common sense and determination, an arrangement can be arrived at which would be in the interests of both the airline and the people of north Dublin,” Ms Coughlan added.

The Minister, who was responding to a series of special notice questions, said that Ryanair’s approach to the Prestwick project was very different from its approach in Dublin. “For one thing, they negotiated with the authorities in Prestwick, which they will not do in Dublin,” she said. “For another, they are building a hangar in Prestwick whereas, in Dublin, they are seeking to have a sitting tenant removed from an existing facility to accommodate them.”

Earlier, Taoiseach Brian Cowen defended Ms Coughlan’s handling of the contentious issue.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that Ms Coughlan’s record had been “abysmal”, adding that Mr Cowen should take charge of the matter.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said it was the second time that Mr Cowen, Ms Coughlan and the Government had made a mess of the SR Technics situation and sacrificed jobs.

Mr Cowen said he rejected the innuendo and political charge.

“We are prepared to move. We are prepared to sit down with Ryanair and discuss the provision of alternative hangar space in a way that is consistent with its requirements,” he added. “We can sort this out if that is what people want. The idea that there is only one viable proposition is not correct.”

Mr Cowen said they could ensure there was vacant possession of the hangar space that was required to take on 300 people, and more, with further work taking place at the airport.