Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

Why does the Taoiseach persist with the fraudulent assertion that privatisation is necessary for funding when he is well aware that, if necessary, public funding to the tune of billions of euro can be wisely invested in this national asset? Shamefully, under his mandate our nationally-owned pension funds are invested in the murderous armaments trade and killer tobacco industries but are not allowed to be invested in a publicly-owned company.

The Government does not have a mandate from the people for this privatisation. Prior to the previous general election the Fianna Fáil Party did not go before the people with a commitment to privatise Aer Lingus. The workers in the company would be entirely justified in paralysing these privatisation plans with industrial action and would be acting far more democratically than the Government. I challenge the Taoiseach and his party to withdraw the privatisation plans and make them a key issue in the forthcoming general election. Let us debate the matter and allow the workers and people to have their view on it. I have no doubt what that will be.

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