John Ellis (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

Like my colleagues I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the future of Aer Lingus. When we look at Aer Lingus we have to do so in the context of where it has come from. Aer Lingus has made enormous strides during the past four or five years from being debt-ridden and on the brink of going under to being a profitable airline. Without a major injection of capital it will not be able to advance further.

The chairman of Aer Lingus came before the Joint Committee on Transport and informed us that Aer Lingus funding requirements over the next five years is approximately €1 billion. That is for the purpose of providing new long-haul aircraft and for an upgrading of the European fleet. If anybody can tell me how the State can get involved in providing that amount of funding he or she would have a better knowledge than I of the future of Aer Lingus.

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