Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

That is a totally separate issue to do with Shannon Airport generally. The Government, my predecessor and I were always aware when the company was to be privatised that the slots were among the most valuable assets, with staff and aircraft. We can see the competition for them and we endeavoured in the privatisation to put in place as much of a safeguard as we could to prevent the disposal of the slots. I am still confident that the rules, regulations, memorandum and articles of association protect the slots from disposal and they have served their purpose.

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