Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

Throughout the debate on the privatisation of Aer Lingus over the past two years, the Labour Party opposed this proposal from the start and suggested that we could find ourselves in precisely the situation in which we find ourselves today. The Minister denied the possibility of that happening. A month ago there were two very strong airlines serving this country, a privately owned airline and a publicly owned one. We now face the prospect of a privately owned monopoly controlling the vast bulk of airline services in and out of this country. We know from this afternoon's news that Ryanair has approximately 25% and it is rising. Irrespective of any talk about golden shares, controlling shares or anything like that, is it not the reality that if Ryanair gets 51% of the company — it seems there is nothing stopping it doing that — it will in effect have full control of the company and can do with Aer Lingus what it wishes? Does the Minister think that would be a good or a bad thing for the economy and the travelling public? Does he think it would be a good or a bad thing for competition in this country, and if his answer is the latter, can he tell us what he intends doing to prevent that happening?

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