Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

——-driving this agenda forward. I said I would bring the matter to Government before Christmas. I did and told the Deputy and others afterwards that because of the Sustaining Progress arrangements, I would immediately engage with the stakeholders involved in the national wage agreement and with the ICTU in particular. I have done that. There has been considerable engagement, both at my level and between officials. The ICTU has its own experts reviewing the financial situation. I have told the Deputy that I expect that process to be completed shortly. I want to go to Government on the issue of Aer Lingus and to conclude it quickly. However, I want to do it by way of partnership involving the sharing of information and knowledge so that no stakeholder involved in the process feels excluded from knowing the basis on which a decision is being made.

As regards the terminal, I am happy to inform the Deputy and the House that there has been excellent engagement on this issue both at my level and through officials over recent weeks and months. I fully accept, as does the Government, that clarity and decision needs to be made immediately on the terminal issue. The numbers clearly indicate we must have a second terminal at Dublin Airport. I want to see that decision and I expect to go to Government shortly with my proposals. We are coming to a conclusion on the matter with all the stakeholders.

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