Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Will the Minister accept that it is normal practice for a Minister moving to a new Department to be given a briefing by the Civil Service on important matters within that Department? I assume the answer to that is "Yes" or "No". Was the Minister offered such a briefing? Did he ask for one, and if not, why? Did he discuss any matter related to Aer Lingus with officials in his Department prior to 27 July, and if so, with whom did he discuss them?

Why will he not ask an independent body rather than an internal departmental inquiry to investigate these matters? Who is running the Department of Transport? Is it the Minister with responsibility or is it the Civil Service? The Government at the time blamed Aer Lingus management for removing the Shannon-Heathrow slots, describing it as regrettable. It now seems that the Minister is blaming the Civil Service for that.

Would the Minister accept that, had he acted properly with management in a timely fashion from early June, such an intervention could have led to a much better solution, salvaging the Shannon-Heathrow slots and thereby offering significant infrastructure to that part of this island?

See this speech in context