Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Any loss of employment is bad for the country and the individuals affected. Anything that can be done to avoid job losses should be done. However, it would be an even worse outcome if we were to end up with one airline operating in and out of Ireland. Competition and connectivity are cornerstones of aviation policy. The former must be supplied by at least two airlines. If one airline costs itself out of the market, we will only have one airline, which would be a bad day for the country.

Despite the current difficulties and the potential loss of 676 jobs at Aer Lingus or 1,000 jobs if pilots do not agree to the package put forward by the company, if Aer Lingus does not secure the savings it requires, we will end up with only one airline operating in and out of this country. I do not want to contemplate such an outcome nor, I am sure, does the Deputy. I accept this is a difficult matter which has employment implications. Notwithstanding this, costs must be brought into line. Aer Lingus operates on a commercial basis and must compete. If it fails to do so, one cornerstone of our aviation policy, namely, competition, will be removed.

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