Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Embleton and Mr. Moriarty for attending today. In her statement on 2 June, Ms Embleton stated that she read some commentary that significant conditionality and restrictions should accompany any financial supports that those in the aviation sector receive and said that such conditionality is not acceptable to Aer Lingus and anything that would impose additional inefficiency on the airline is not acceptable. There is a pretty robust response to that. How inefficient is Aer Lingus? Pre-pandemic, the airline was operating in a very healthy manner with net profits and increasing turnover. As a customer of Aer Lingus, I have always found it to be a wonderful airline to deal with. I have never had any problems with it. It has great staff from booking to check in to the flight itself. Where do these inefficiencies lie and who is responsible for them? Ms Embleton stated that the company needs governmental support. How much does it need and where would that money go if the Government wrote a cheque for "X" figure?