Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I learned this afternoon that the three top executives in Aer Lingus have indicated their intention to resign with effect from 1 May 2005. This shock announcement comes one day after the news that the Government's chief executive designate for the Health Service Executive will not take up the position. The three Aer Lingus managers, in association with their workforce, have done a remarkable job in Aer Lingus in recent years, turning it from a loss-making doomed airline to a profitable low cost carrier. Their departure will be a serious blow to the national airline and its credibility and will cause major concern to its staff and customers.

The Government has received the Goldman Sachs report with which a Cabinet sub-committee is dealing. Will the Taoiseach tell the House whether the dithering and confusion that appears to exist among Government circles about the future of Aer Lingus has contributed greatly to this shock announcement of the departure of the chief executive and his two partners, all three of whom were concerned with a proposal for a buy-out of Aer Lingus? Does he consider that the six-month deferral of their resignation has implications for the airline? Has he considered that an alternative carrier may have approached these three executives to bring their experience to it?

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