Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I do not believe it is ever helpful, and perhaps the Deputy is not suggesting this, to take blame one side or the other. There are complex issues on both sides that need to be dealt with. I respect the different views they evoke in terms of dealing with some of the issues. Both sides have a similar interest, which is the development of Aer Lingus not only on routes to Europe but worldwide, and securing the company as we go forward, making sure it is financially strong, stable, that it has the capacity to enter markets and to continue to grow by purchase, if necessary, of new aircraft. It has a good financial fund available to it, a war chest, so to speak, to do that. That was the purpose of the IPO.

The interests of the management and the workforce in Aer Lingus are the same. We need to get both sides together to make sure resolution of the issues between them can be quickly facilitated. All energy should be focused on the competition and how best to meet it as opposed to getting involved in difficult industrial relations scenarios. I urge both sides to work through this. I attach no blame to either side in the sense that I understand and respect the points of view of both sides. They are complex issues, but they are capable of being solved in regard to developing Aer Lingus into the company we all want it to be.

See this speech in context