Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Is all this not indicative of the fact that the Government is starting to feel some discomfort at its decision to sell Aer Lingus? Is it not the case that the Taoiseach is at sea and cannot even properly prepare himself in terms of the language he is to employ? Is it not the case that the arguments, as presented by other voices in the House against the proposed privatisation of Aer Lingus, are starting to ring true in Government? While I do not expect the Tánaiste to be the first to realise the folly of the pursuit the Government is undertaking with regard to the future of Aer Lingus, I hope that on mature reflection — if that is possible — the Taoiseach and others in his party will recognise the folly of their decision not only to sell off but to discard our national carrier. This disgraceful intention is the most important issue, not word games about who stole or stripped what. The people are having their national carrier stolen from them by the very people they have entrusted to guard it.

See this speech in context