Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I am very interested in the Taoiseach's reply. As 9 December 2004 is given as the date of the final meeting, I wonder whether any business was conducted at the meeting other than a Christmas drink. Was it envisaged that the sub-committee would need to meet again in any form? Was it envisaged that it would address the question of why the Government seems ideologically opposed to investing in Aer Lingus, although it is investing in so many other airlines through the national pensions reserve fund?

Is there a need to revisit this issue? The Taoiseach should indicate that the sub-committee should meet again, perhaps in conjunction with the National Pensions Reserve Fund, to ascertain where money is being invested on behalf of the taxpayer in airlines other than Aer Lingus, including Ryanair, and why Aer Lingus seems to be regarded as not worthy of investment but of being sold off to whatever sharks will try to make money out of it. The sub-committee needs to meet again as its work is far from finished, and it has left a very unfortunate legacy.

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