Dublin North East Labour T.D. Tommy Broughan has asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan to urgently draw down any EU funds that are available for SR Technics workers after her recent meeting with EU Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla on accessing funding from the European Globalisation Fund.

In a PQ reply the Tanaiste said that "at our meeting last week Commissioner Spidla reiterated that the Commission would give applications submitted from Ireland for support from the European Globalisation Fund every consideration. In line with the revised eligibility conditions that now govern funding provided from the European Globalisation Fund, the possibilities of making an application in respect of workers from SR Technics and Waterford Crystal is also being assessed."

Deputy Broughan said," I would urge the Tanaiste to prioritise accessing all possible EU funding for the re-training and support of SR Technics workers. The Tanaiste and Taoiseach must also do everything possible to secure a successor business at the world class Dublin Airport SR Technics facility which up until recently had nearly 1200 highly skilled workers.

"The Tanaiste has again reported that "both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland continue to work with management and interested parties to encourage companies to establish viable operations and so to maximise the number of jobs at Dublin Airport to replace those lost as a result of the closure of SR Technics." But unfortunately neither Tanaiste Coughlan or Taoiseach Cowen have been proactive enough to maintain the 1200 SRT jobs or to appreciate the great urgency needed to keep this vital heavy aviation engineering industry at Dublin Airport."