Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Griffin and Mr. Walsh. What Mr. Walsh has to do today and in the coming days is to convince the Government and us to troop into the Dáil and vote to dispose of the 25.1% shareholding. When the privatisation took place in 2006-2007, there was a specific amendment put in place for a particular purpose, that is, to prevent the entire privatisation of Aer Lingus so that we would protect the jobs, the slots and the connectivity. It is difficult to see how a five-year guarantee has changed that. In that respect, why should IAG not consider the Government as a shareholder remaining part of the Aer Lingus shareholding process and should Mr. Walsh not be looking for guarantees from the Government shareholding rather than he giving the Government guarantees?

As far as I know, and perhaps Mr. Walsh will tell us, both the offer from Ryanair previously and the one Mr. Walsh has made were unsolicited, or was the offer solicited by any body or entity? Mr. Walsh attempted to buy Aer Lingus previously by way of managerial buy-out and perhaps he can explain that. At this point in time, Mr. Walsh is the chairman-----