United Technologies, which is trying to sell Sikorski helicopters to the Army, is dangling the prospect of new jobs in FLS (the old TEAM Aer Lingus) in front of the Government.

But the buyer should beware: in the 1970s, McDonald Douglas made a similar approach, dependent on the Government buying its McAuto computer for hospitals. Tralee General Hospital got one and others followed. The system was less than satisfactory and no jobs ensued.