Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for the clarification. I am somewhat disappointed that Dr. McCarthy has included Aer Lingus, considering that it is of strategic interest to retain the 25% shareholding. The Minister outlined the decision taken at the time of the initial public offering of shares in Aer Lingus and, in particular, why the 25% holding was retained. Notwithstanding this and the comments the Minister made about the London Heathrow slots, the fact that we are an island nation and that effective competition in domestic air services is of vital strategic national interest, I trust the Government will give broader consideration to the issue rather than simply considering the Heathrow Airport slots in themselves. They are vital, but there is a wider necessity to maintain effective competition in the airline sector.

In the past Aer Lingus effectively had a monopoly. Without the emergence of Ryanair there would be a lesser service and higher fares. The concern is that the disposal of the State's 25% shareholding would be damaging in terms of direct connectivity to London Heathrow and the onward services provided and, more especially, the lack of effective competition from a business and tourism perspective. Whatever discussions take place at Government level or whatever considerations the Minister and his Department put together in the coming weeks in respect of this proposal, I call on him to look specifically at these two aspects, that is to say, the necessity to maintain what is a vital link and the broader issue of effective competition in the aviation sector here.

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