Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

What is the true market value of the Heathrow slots? Many figures have been bandied about ranging from €400 million up to €1 billion in the past number of weeks. What would be the projected growth in percentage terms for Aer Lingus within AIG over the next five years? Can Mr. Walsh give an appropriate growth percentage for the airline?

It is imperative that our regional airports, in particular Cork and Shannon, and also Knock as has been stated, would be kept up to standard and that connectivity, if anything, would be expanded for those airports. Due to the fact that there are in the region of 70,000 foreign direct investment jobs in those regions, it is essential that they would be maintained and there would be the possibility of the creation of new jobs.

What will be the resultant impact on our regional airports from the point of view of peripheral areas such as Kerry and Donegal where there is a public service obligation already in place for those two regional airports? How will the viability of those airports be affected? The tourism industry is most important for those regions. Kerry is at the southern tip on the western seaboard. We have a huge tourism industry and those regional airports are important for attracting businesses to those regions and for retaining existing businesses.

If Mr. Willie Walsh was to move on in the next number of years, as anybody can, to another venture and another company, what guarantees would there be for Aer Lingus after he left? Deputy O'Donovan mentioned cast-iron guarantees. Can we tie that down and have a guarantee that everything will be in place if there is agreement on a takeover?