Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As Minister for Transport in a Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition in the early 1990s I facilitated investment. The investment helped us out of a crisis but did not provide the full remedy required. It was a one-off State investment and was approved at the time by the European Commission and Commissioner van Miert on that basis. I am aware of the rational investor principle but the issue in question is the extent to which the Government can gain access to funds of the magnitude required by Aer Lingus without putting in jeopardy its many other commitments in respect of investment in health, education and many other areas——

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