Up to 100 aircraft maintenance workers based at Dublin airport took part in a protest in the capital today over stalled plans by Ryanair to create 300 new jobs in the industry.
The workers marched from Parnell Square to the Department of Enterprise.
The Unite trade union, which represents hundreds of current and former craft workers in the sector called on Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan to work with all the interested parties to ensure the creation of the jobs.
There has been an ongoing row over the potential creation of aircraft maintenance posts, with Ryanair insisting it needs access to Hangar Six, which is currently used by Aer Lingus.
Unite Irish regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said the 300 jobs “and arguably more” were within the control of three organisations – the Government, Aer Lingus and Ryanair.
“We need each of them to stop posturing and get down to making real decisions that will have a dramatic impact on hundreds of families and the entire north Dublin area," he said.
“Twelve months ago the government could have saved 900 jobs at SR Technics for a level of investment that would have been equal to 12 months of social welfare payments. Now we have another chance to revive at least 300 of those jobs and possibly more."
Mr Kelly said the union wants Ryanair to “stop looking for reasons not to locate these jobs in Dublin” and to put “petty vindictiveness” with the Dublin Airport Authority aside.
“They should utilise any reasonable facilities offered, and locate these jobs in Ireland in the interests on the workers concerned and those Irish people who have played a part in building the company to what it is. Soundbite statements are not enough.”
Mr Kelly said Aer Lingus’s decision to located maintenance jobs in France was a “shameful betrayal” of the workers at Dublin airport and that it must be reversed. He called on the Government to “finally show some leadership” and to do something to create and protect jobs.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, Aer Lingus chief executive Christoph Mueller, DAA chief executive Declan Collier and the chief executive of the IDA, Barry O’Leary, will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport this afternoon to discuss the issue of Hangar Six.
Chairman of the committee Frank Fahey, said: “In the past few weeks, there has obviously been much controversy and debate surrounding the use of Hangar Six in Dublin Airport.
“Ryanair has claimed it would create 300 engineering jobs in aircraft maintenance if it were given the lease on Hangar Six. However, the hangar is already leased to Aer Lingus by the Dublin Aviation Authority.”
He said today’s meeting would allow all parties in the dispute over the hangar to outline to the committee their sides to the story and to give committee members the opportunity to raise issues they may have with the chief executives.