Ms Mary Rose Burke:

Looking at Aer Lingus as a small, regional airline in a globalised world, what is its sustainability into the future? The reality is that Aer Lingus has been in play for the past number of years. There have been a number of takeover discussions and the expectation would be that if it is not this deal, Aer Lingus remains in play and therefore what will the future hold? We will be back here again. This is not a new place in which to find ourselves. Aer Lingus probably will not survive as an independent entity in the long term and, therefore, we have to discuss the salient issues now. It is a profitable, well-run and lean organisation and it is an acquisition target in a consolidating industry.