Galway West Senator, Fidelma Healy Eames, has today (Thursday) said that statutory redundancy will be paid to Galway Airport workers in the event of insolvency but that all efforts must be made to ensure that an investor is found for the airport.

“As alluded to by Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, in the Seanad yesterday, Galway Airport staff will be entitled to statutory redundancy in the event of Galway Airport becoming insolvent. I hope it will be of some comfort to the staff that that this is the case but I would urge that every effort is made to ensure that an alternative is arrived at so that these jobs can be saved.

“Our insolvency legislation dictates that staff have the first call on company funds in the event of insolvency. In the event that Galway Airport goes into liquidation, it will be the responsibillty of the Department of Social Protection to ensure that workers at Galway Airport receive their statutory redundancy.

“These workers are the victims of the fall-out of the Galway Airport – Bank of Ireland situation. It is only right and just that they get the minimum statutory redundancy.

“As for the Airport, it is hugely regrettable that the situation has come to this. Considering the Chairman and Board who have always behaved so impeccably, it is a desperate outcome for Galway Airport and the region.

“The best possible outcome would be for an investor to be found at this stage and I would urge the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton and Minister Varadkar to do their best to find a suitable outcome in this regard.”