Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I particularly welcome the package in so far as it relates to the Dublin Airport Authority and Aer Lingus and for the framework it provides for the exploitation of the undoubted potential at the airport. Various unjustifiable and cynical comments have been made about the background to the package, suggesting that it panders to certain elements at the airport. Instead, it was an excellent exercise in partnership, the result of which satisfied the majority.

I am a Fingallian and proud of it. Both my parents were born and raised in Fingal, as I was. Throughout my life and most of the life of my parents, Dublin Airport was the major industrial institution in the area. I come from a typical Fingal family: I was reared next door to an Aer Lingus employee, my sister married an Aer Lingus employee, several good friends of mine are Aer Lingus employees and recently my constituency secretary's daughter became an Aer Lingus employee.

Fianna Fáil in Dublin North held a meeting recently attended by 100 people, almost as many as at a Green Party national conference. Of those 100 people, 45 had direct links with Dublin Airport. That indicates how deeply Dublin Airport is rooted in the community and how important it is. I reject the suggestion that the aviation package is pandering to vested interests. It is a classic example of democracy and of listening to the voters. I have no hesitation in supporting this package on the basis that it is what the voters who elected me wanted.

I will deal with the three individual components at the airport, although the motion relates specifically to Aer Lingus and I will not deviate too far from that. Aer Lingus is highly profitable as a result of the hard work and sacrifices of the staff of Aer Lingus.

It is easy to forget that five years ago Aer Lingus was on the brink. That was before the attack on the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001. Aviation changed after that event. A survival plan for Aer Lingus was executed and implemented through good management and the dedication of the workforce. As a result of the sacrifices made by the workforce, there are now more Aer Lingus pensioners than employees.

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