The Government has rejected claims by Ryanair over the terms under which a hangar at Dublin Airport has been leased to Air Lingus.
Responding to a press release this evening in which Ryanair accused Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Taoiseach Brian Cowen of 'making false claims' in the Dáil over the terms of the agreement on of Hangar 6, a spokesman outlined the Government's position.
Ryanair said Tánaiste Coughlan had confirmed during last night's meeting between the parties that Aer Lingus had a 12 month notice clause in it's lease agreement with the DAA which could be exercised by the Government without breaking the law.
This evening, a Government spokesman insisted the lease was a 'binding contract' and said that the Taoiseach had sought legal advice to confirm this.
Ryanair said an assertion by Mr Cowen that Aer Lingus had a 24 month notice period in the lease 'is also untrue'. The company claimed Ms Coughlan has told it yesterday that the notice period was for 12 months.
The airline also queried the assertion that there had been a 'competition' for Hangar 6. It claimed 'there was no such competition' and called on the Taoiseach to publish the terms of the competition and disclose how Aer Lingus won the competition in November.
"Ryanair calls on the Taoiseach to correct these false claims, or alternatively publish the terms of the competition he claims Aer Lingus won last year, and explain to the 800 unemployed SRT engineers on what basis Aer Lingus won this competition (when they have created no jobs and have no heavy maintenance hangar) over Ryanair who offered 500 jobs and can start putting heavy maintenance work into Hangar 6 from September of this year", Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary said.
Tonight, the Government spokesman said that in September of last year, Ryanair was invited to submit a proposal setting out its specifications so that the DAA, and other relevant agencies including the IDA could assist in securing the provision of the necessary facilities.
"Ryanair declined to submit a proposal", the spokesman said.
Mr O'Leary's company countered the claim it did not make an offer for Hangar 6. It said it has published written offers it said it made "directly to the Tánaiste" in August and September last year.
The Government spokesman said tonight that while Ryanair was informed (by letter of 19 September by the CEO of the IDA) that Aer Lingus had rights to occupy and use Hangar 6, that Ryanair could have chosen, at that time, to engage with the parties involved to secure the use of the hangar.
However, the spokesman concluded that this could only be achieved with the agreement of Aer Lingus.
