Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for all their input. No doubt they all are key stakeholders, in the regions and across the country, and they represent various organisations. There is a nuanced difference between some of the presentations, notwithstanding that they all recognise the importance of connectivity. From our point view, for us to come to some position on this, it is to understand whether the State could sell its 25.1% interest in the company or not. That is ultimately the decision we will have to take.

In the case of Mr. Edmond and Ms Quin, I am hearing that we should sell if we can put in place appropriate guarantees for the future. While I can understand Ms Quin's position, I am disappointed that such is the position of Shannon. I hope it is not the position of the board. From the evidence we have already heard today, there is no chance that we will get the kind of legal guarantees that would be appropriate. To be honest, it is a bit of a smokescreen. Captain Evan Cullen, a representative of the pilots who are considerable shareholders in the company, stated that at a minimum, if IAG were to purchase Aer Lingus, within three years a number of slots would automatically be up for dislodgement or dislocation under competition rules. Therefore, there are real issues here. Perhaps it may not be Mr. Edmond's fully thought-out position, but I would hope that all of the witnesses who have an interest in this would seek appropriate legal advice and develop a position that understands the limitations of any such guarantees or binding warranties. To be honest, when it is gone, it is gone and one has little chance of exercising control over it, and now is the time to deal with that.

Generally, in any takeover, for example, by a bigger company of a smaller company, it is usually the seller, not the buyer, that issues the warranties. There is a wish list being exercised here that nearly expects that the tooth fairy will appear and resolve the problem. This does not happen in the real world. Let us be honest about that. That is the political cover that certain politicians are taking at present. Thankfully, the witnesses are not in that space and they can be a little stronger.

The key theme coming across from what they talked about is connectivity. Ms Quin talks about the wider connectivity and the importance of getting into the global network. We have already heard from others that such is already provided for through the oneworld alliance and the Star Alliance, which Aer Lingus is part of in its independence status. If the airline teams up with oneworld exclusively, it loses its connectivity and onward code share and alliances with Star Alliance. I am not so sure that it provides Ms Quin with the upside of which she speaks.

Mr. Edmond has spoken clearly on the importance of regional connectivity. The only way that such can be achieved is by the State's retention. There are complications and there are difficulties. We have seen it in Shannon in the past even with a State shareholding in how management were able to orchestrate a certain strategy that saw Shannon deprived of slots for a period of time and a lot of work had to be done since, in terms of ensuring that the board had the appropriate level of representation and was in a position to prevent that happening.

Mr. Downes, Dr. Borthwick and Mr. Healy are clear that the sale cannot go ahead. They do not believe that the State should divest. It is clear to me from what they say that one would not get the kind of long-term guarantees that are being talked about.