Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister accept the Government's treatment of Aer Lingus is inexcusable at this stage? It was the injudicious remarks of the Minister for State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Callely, when he said there was no urgency for a decision, which precipitated the loss of the senior management at Aer Lingus and which now means that effectively very few options remain open for the restructuring and refinancing of the company. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, promised a decision before Christmas. At Christmas he promised there would definitely be one before January, and still there is no decision.

Is the Minister aware that recently at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport, the lame duck chairman of Aer Lingus said the company must have a decision on financing early in the first half of this year. Is that decision going to be made by the Government and when is it going to be made? Negotiations with Airbus and Boeing have dragged on. The critical moment approaches when an order must be placed. Where is the money to come from? Aer Lingus is being greatly disadvantaged as a result of the way it is being treated by Government and decisions must be made. I believe the Minister accepts that, but why are they not being made? What are the barriers in the way of making a decision? Is there tension within Cabinet or what is going on? Is the Taoiseach afraid to upset someone? Why has no decision been made?

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