Liz O'Donnell (Dublin South, Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this debate on the future of Aer Lingus. The Government amendment appropriately notes the airline's contribution to the development of tourism and the wider economy and this has never been questioned. I join other Deputies to commend that contribution.

My colleague, Deputy Grealish, has already spoken on the specifics of the aviation package announced last week. I wish to demonstrate how the development of policy on Aer Lingus shows to a great degree the wisdom of the policies pursued by the Government parties and in equal measure, the poverty and very serious incoherence of the policies devised by the parties opposite in all their diversity.

The policy position set out for Aer Lingus by the proposers of this motion are reminiscent of those failed, statist policies of decades ago——

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