Climbdown as Tánaiste set to meet Ryanair chief

THE Government is willing to “bend over backwards” to secure 300 jobs from Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary after Tánaiste Mary Coughlan agreed to meet him today in a humiliating climbdown.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment earlier said she would “certainly not” pick up the phone to discuss Mr O’Leary’s proposal to base Ryanair’s aircraft maintenance hangar at Dublin Airport, with the creation of 300 jobs. But following a huge public outcry over her refusal, a discussion with Taoiseach Brian Cowen and two letters yesterday from Mr O’Leary, Ms Coughlan last night agreed to a face-to-face meeting.

“If he has jobs, we are hungry for them and we will bend over backwards to get them,” a spokesperson for the Tánaiste said last night. Ms Coughlan spoke to the Taoiseach by phone but a Government spokesperson would not confirm if they discussed the issue. Last night, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said Mr O’Leary had been in touch with him to guarantee 300 maintenance jobs at Hangar Six at Dublin Airport.