Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for the presentations.

I suppose I would feel a bit disappointed over the opinion that IAG is merely going out there and stating it will improve connectivity, deliver more flights and deliver more passengers. It was Deputy Dooley and I who put forward the suggestion of bringing witnesses in, not to scare people but because, in advance of the possibility that some group would takeover Aer Lingus, it is important we have this discussion. I note it has been said we are scaremongering. We are not scaremongering. We must get answers and point out the problems and fears that we all have.

I would have terrible fears. The chamber of commerce must consider that if there is a takeover, by all accounts and according to all of the evidence we have heard so far, there will be job losses that will affect the different airports. That will have an effect on the economies in each of those areas. The connectivity is not guaranteed. The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association, IALPA, made it clear that it has happened in the past where the regulator made it clear after a certain period of time that they could not hold on to those slots, and that is what this is all about. The Heathrow slots are vital, for the west and for all the different airports. That is what we have got to keep our eyes on.

The last thing companies such as IAG will worry about is the regional imbalance. They will be worrying about what they will get. There will be staff in Aer Lingus who have vested interests and will only be worrying about the shares and the money they will get for them. We have heard evidence of that. There are executive managers and managers in Aer Lingus who have a vested interest in selling this off.

From a strategic point of view, why would one sell off an airline that is making money? Passenger numbers are increasing. Connectivity is getting better right across the country. Why would one do it?

This belongs to the people. I made clear earlier that the selling off of Aer Lingus and the State ending up with 25.1% has been a disaster for the country, but we are where we are. If we further lose our control here, we will leave it at the mercy of the markets. That would not be good for the country. It would not be good for business because IAG will not worry about what is happening in Shannon and Cork.

It will be worrying about cutting costs, reducing numbers and using the Heathrow slots for other purposes. That is their plan down the road.