Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - TEAM Aer Lingus Staff.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

132 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the fact that, following the sale of TEAM Aer Lingus to FLS, workers who opted to return to direct employment with Aer Lingus have not been given jobs even broadly in line with their extensive engineering experience in view of her commitments at the time; and her views on whether it is wasteful for the national airline not to utilise these highly skilled workers when there are ongoing vacancies in engineering and mechanics. [22399/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I understand that Aer Lingus is endeavouring to accommodate the former staff from TEAM as vacancies matching their skills arise in the airline. Of the 91 staff who did not accept terms for their employment to FLS Aerospace, 30 have licenses issued by the Irish Aviation Authority – IAA – and 20 other staff have a craft background.

In relation to the staff who hold IAA licenses, 22 have been placed in technical jobs matching their skills, one has retired on medical grounds and the remaining seven are in non-technical positions. As technical positions arise, these remaining staff have the opportunity to apply for them. With regard to the 20 staff who have a craft background, these have been placed in various positions in the airline.

The number of technical and craft positions in the airline is limited. Nevertheless, Aer Lingus intend that the ex-TEAM staff will be given every consideration in the event of future suitable positions becoming available in the airline.