Unions at troubled aircraft maintenance company SR Technics are meeting today after the company confirmed that “a preferred bidder” had been chosen for its landing gear and auxiliary power unit (APU) operations.
The Swiss-owned company has started talks with interested parties on expressions of interest in the base maintenance and garage facilities at the plant.
A spokesman for SR Technics told The Irish Timeslast night that a deadline of May 22nd had been set for bids for its base-maintenance operation and of May 27th for offers for its line maintenance and garage activities.
Siptu says unions have still to learn when they can meet with bidders.
Speaking during a break in talks this morning, Siptu Branch Organiser Pat Ward accused the Government of “paralysis" and of a "lack of political will"
“In many respects the problems we face flow from the drift of Government policy over the past 12 years”, Mr Ward said.
The Siptu organiser criticised the privatisation of Aer Lingus, describing it as a 'fast buck' deal which he said exemplified that 'drift'.
“Any Government with an ounce of political will and morsel of business acumen would have ensured that SR Technics was not allowed to waltz away from its Dublin plant without having to address the €26 million pensions deficit, the €20 million leaseback arrangement with the Dublin Airport Authority or the asset stripping operation now taking place with regard to the sale of the auxiliary power unit and landing gear equipment."
SR Technics has confirmed that as part of the sale agreement, the identity of the purchaser of the landing gear and APU assets would remain confidential until the sale was finalised.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan has expressed her disappointment at SR Technics' decision to sell part of its operation and said State agencies will continue to do what they can to save jobs at the firm.
In a statement issued this morning, the Tánaiste said she was "extremely disappointed" at the development.
Ms Coughlan added that her department would continue to work with the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to "maximise employment opportunities" at the plant.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, chief executive of the IDA,
Barry O'Leary said that two groups are still interested in buying the assets of aircraft maintenance firm SR Technics.
European Parliament Socialist Party candidate Joe Higgins called this morning on SR Technics workers to "immediately occupy the plant" in order to prevent the sale of machinery and to "demand renationalisation" of the enterprise.
Mr Higgins said the jobs at the plant along with 60 apprenticeships could be maintained but insisted staff could "no longer wait" for the Government or unions to act, "they have to seize the initiative now and force a solution on the Government through occupation," he said.
The Irish Timesrevealed last month that a European-based company that specialised in auxiliary power units, which comprised about 20 per cent of the business of SR Technics here, was believed to have tabled an offer.
It is understood that the company’s APU and landing gear operations occupy two of the six hangars used by SR Technics at Dublin airport.
The Swiss-owned firm decided to break up the sale of assets at Dublin airport as a result of not receiving a significant bid for the entire operation. A spokesman for the company said last night: “Several bids for all or part of SRT Ireland were received but they were substantially below the current market value of these assets.”
“SR Technics has been in close contact with a number of parties interested in these parts of the business and will be meeting bidders in the coming weeks to discuss their proposals in detail,” the company said last night.