Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister said the development of the Canadian market is very important from an Irish point of view. In that context our national carrier especially in terms of the development of further transatlantic routes out of Dublin and Shannon is of huge importance to the economy. There has been much recent commentary on a possible sale of a Government stake in Aer Lingus. The Minister referred to the development of North American markets and routes, and that the Government is mindful of the connectivity between Shannon, New York, Boston and the greater North American continent but even more particularly the connectivity between Shannon and London and onwards into the far East, Asia and such places. There is much comment in regard to what would happen in the event of any proposed sale of the Government stake.

Certainly in my region, we ask for an assurance that any action taken is based on the greatest possible due diligence. The perception is that it did not happen last time.