Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

It was interesting to hear Deputy O'Donnell state that Aer Lingus had to be sold to raise the €1.2 billion needed to buy an additional 12 long-haul aircraft. Last week, the Minister for Transport asked us to see the bigger picture, to think outside the box and to imagine a glorious future for Aer Lingus and Dublin Airport. Looking into the future, I see a depletion of global oil reserves. Exxon Mobil predicts that once depletion starts, which is sooner rather than later, oil stocks will deplete by around 5% to 6% per annum. Goldman Sachs believes that and predicts oil prices in the not too distant future of over $100 per barrel. If we really think of the future, which we must do when debating this motion, the prospect of oil becoming incredibly expensive must be taken into account. The only thing that will get aircraft off the ground is oil. In such a volatile future, it is preferable for us to have control of the State airline rather than having it sold and losing any real control over the future of the company.

Last week, I accused the Government of being idiots for not seeing the reality of an oil depleted future. Now I feel that the word "idiots" is too soft. Ignoring this policy is actually criminal neglect. Even the US president talks about this and every government of any stature has begun to recognise it. Our Government is too busy with its small squabbles about two or three terminals. That will not be the main issue in aviation policy. The issue will deal with how we adjust aviation policy to suit depleting oil reserves. The Minister should address that rather than flog the assets.

I missed Deputy Glennon's speech but I was told that it was as entertaining as ever, with the usual lines of the Fianna Fáil press office attacking our own party and others. I look forward to reading his speech because the Deputy, in debates on the Bill in 2003, was resolutely opposed to the sale of Aer Lingus. I will also be interested the hear the views of other Fianna Fáil Deputies from the north side about the future of the company. However, I do not expect much because I do not see the sense behind this decision. If it was made to buy those long-haul aircraft, it was poorly explained in the Oireachtas committees which Deputy Shortall and I attended. It was never clear that such was the purpose of the sale.

I believe the decision was ideological and that was given as the reason for the sale only recently. Ideologies come and go and the current ideology of privatisation, to which this Government is wedded, may be seen as one that has served us poorly. We should get the private sector involved where it is appropriate and benefits the development of our economy. However, Aer Lingus is an example of the public sector working very well. The Deputies opposite me do not believe in public enterprise, but people on this side of the House still do so.

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