Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is in structural terms as the structure was. The staff who have communicated with me were willing to look at changes in structures. I do not think it is fair to suggest that the approach taken achieved union agreement in any shape or form. There was an acceptance of the reality that things would change and that workers were facing a different aviation environment to the one prior to the pandemic. Aer Lingus is a private company and makes decisions but it has not recognised the tremendous input from those workers, who were prepared to make significant concessions to protect and preserve a base there. I ask Ms Embleton to look at this again. I know she has flatly said to Ministers and the Taoiseach that she will not but the workers are willing to work with Aer Lingus in the best interests of their families and the wider region. If Aer Lingus had a more flexible approach, it would be met with workers in the region who have worn the Aer Lingus uniform with pride for generations, whose parents and grandparents worked for Aer Lingus in many cases, who are prepared to work with Aer Lingus and be part of the recovery rather than being cast aside as some kind of an impediment. I do not know if that was intentional or not but it does not sit well with them.

The next question relates to the ISIF loan and supports from the State. I will tease through this. An ISIF loan is an investment by the State where there will potentially be a positive economic impact. I can think of nothing that would have a greater economic benefit in the wider region than investment by Aer Lingus for the retention of a crew base and services in Shannon. That needs to be looked at. The witnesses indicated that they received €150 million. They are looking for more and they are in discussions. They do not want to have any preconditions. Have they given any consideration to where the State might take a shareholding rather than provide debt? The State would come onto the share register. Aer Lingus is concerned about carrying more debt, paying that back and paying interest, which would put it under considerable immediate pressure. Will the witnesses concentrate on that?