Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for his contribution and his statement of Labour Party policy. I trust he will appreciate that Fianna Fáil has a party policy on the matter also but I cannot act on the basis of party policy. I have a particular role as adviser to the Government and to the shareholder, who is the Minister for Finance. I am somewhat constrained in what I can say. On aviation policy, which I outlined to the Deputy earlier, it is not that we just have two major airlines coming in here. If we could have ten major airlines, that would be Government policy, but at a minimum we should have competition — the point the Deputy made.

As I explained in the House the last day, very specific rules have been put in place by takeover panels, competition authorities, the Stock Exchange and everything else as regards shareholders acting in concert during a bid period. Therefore, when Mr. O'Leary requested a meeting with me, I felt it necessary, as did he, to have a legal adviser present to ensure these rules were obeyed. From that viewpoint, I can confirm that I have not had conversations with other shareholders, nor would it be right or proper to have had, as this could give rise to competition difficulties — and Stock Exchange difficulties.

As regards the slots at Heathrow, the "initial offer" suggested the Government would have to give its approval for changes to those. In the offer document it is now suggested that the Houses of the Oireachtas is the body that should have the say in that regard. I do not know, legally, whether that is a possibility and we shall take legal advice on that as we will on the other aspects.

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