Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach has not confirmed if the Cabinet has taken its decision but we can presume it was taken at this morning's meeting. The Taoiseach has not responded to any of the questions I put to him with regards to the ICTU proposition which clearly merits serious consideration, which it has not received heretofore. The Joint Committee on Transport is due to meet to discuss the serious issue of Aer Lingus this Thursday. Why did the Cabinet proceed prior to this important engagement? Is this not indicative, yet again, of a total absence of respect for democratic accountability and consultation? Clearly, that has not happened. The Government has proceeded without the benefit of that further discussion within a committee of the Houses.

Does the Taoiseach not agree with the majority of the people that the privatisation of Eircom, our telecommunications network, was an unmitigated disaster? Is it not the case that a number of spokespersons from the Government Front Bench have indicated that with the benefit of hindsight — it is a pity it always comes with hindsight to them — this was not perhaps the wisest move to have taken? Is it the case that despite this, the same international banker has been engaged to advise on the proposed Aer Lingus privatisation as was engaged in regard to the Eircom debacle? Can we not presume that the very same will happen to Aer Lingus whereby it will be thrown to the wolves, as was the case with Eircom, with very little return to the State, a bleak future for the workforce and a profitable national airline broken up for onward sale and set-aside?

At this eleventh hour, will the Taoiseach respond to an appeal to pull back from the brink on this proposition, recognising the historic reality of previous sell-offs of major key infrastructural elements within our overall economic condition? We appeal to him to pull back from the brink and to examine further all the other salient and important options.

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