Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The Government is a shareholder in Aer Lingus and the relationship between myself and the directors would therefore be very different from the relationship I have with those I have appointed to other organisations. Information cannot be freely passed from the directors to me as a shareholder because the company is quoted on the Stock Exchange. The Deputy will be aware of the previous difficulty. However I am generally informed from what the chief executive has said publicly and discussions between my officials and the chief executive about the Aer Lingus half-yearly report on which, as a shareholder, I received a briefing. There are various contacts but the ins and outs of such contacts are not the same with regard to Aer Lingus as they might be with some of the other companies and boards where I have made appointments.

I did not think Deputy Coveney was making a political point. I accept his question and I hope he will accept my answer in the same spirit. I want to do this in the right way and as quickly as possible.

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