Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

It defies belief that a Minister of Deputy Dempsey's experience would not have realised when he took over the Department that the key issue was the privatisation of Aer Lingus. Surely he would have asked whether there were any issues regarding the privatisation of Aer Lingus that needed to be brought to his attention. The memo he received was dated 13 June. He took over as Minister on 14 June. I expect the memorandum was prepared before he went in as Minister, and he would have been given a separate briefing on this issue. Did the former Minister, Deputy Cullen, brief the Minister on Aer Lingus and the Heathrow slots?

The Minister received information on 27 July to the effect that his Department had known since 13 June that Aer Lingus was considering pulling the Shannon to Heathrow slots. At that stage did the Minister not consider appointing two directors to the board with a mandate to protect the Heathrow slots? Does he agree that if he had appointed the directors back on 14 June when he took over as Minister we would not be in this situation now? The Heathrow slots in Shannon would have been protected.

When did the Taoiseach become aware of the proposed decision of Aer Lingus? When did the Minister first discuss it with the Taoiseach? These are critical matters. What the Minister is presenting here today does not stand up to scrutiny. Clearly, the Government knew as far back as 13 June that the decision was to be made, and it could have made certain it would not happen.

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