Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is fair enough. I welcome the fact that there may be a court case. To be fair to Aer Lingus it needs to take ownership, which it has, and also have accountability on the other side. I thank Mr. Moriarty.

I am a bit confused, and I know I am probably in a small dilemma given that I am from Cork, when I hear Ms Embleton, Mr. Moriarty, Ms Carberry and Mr. O'Neill speak about Aer Lingus having a good summer and that it is looking to grow and wants to grow. I have a genuine question. Like Deputy O'Connor, I have a great interest in aviation. I do not see Aer Lingus having an interest in wanting to grow our regional airports. I appreciate and congratulate Aer Lingus on the Manchester and Cleveland routes but I do not see any evidence of growth or a willingness to grow. The witnesses have admitted that the short-haul fleet has reduced greatly. Aer Lingus's footprint has been hugely diminished. We can compare it to Ryanair. I accept it is a different model and I appreciate that but Ryanair did not waste the crisis or the recession. I do not see this coming from Aer Lingus. The evidence I give as an example is Cork.