Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

If I understood the Taoiseach properly yesterday, he said it would be necessary to bring legislation before the House if the national stake in Aer Lingus was to be sold. Is the Minister for Finance saying this is not now necessary, although control has been ceded, and the lifeblood of this economy in terms of trade, with all its implications, will not be discussed because legislation will not now come before the House? If that is so, can we have the earliest possible debate in this House on the implications of this Government deciding to surrender control of Aer Lingus and that we would be enabled to discuss the matter from the point of view of trade, tourism and the strategic interests of this country?

The consumer strategy group, comprised of various experts and resourced, produced a report after a long wait. This morning I opened my newspapers find an advertisement advising that a further report on the groceries order has been commissioned. The consumer strategy group made clear recommendations and now another group is to be set up. This is in keeping with the actions of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, who commissioned 116 reports when he was Minister for Health and Children.

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