Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Deputy welcomes the Government's decision, which was correct. In one sense the Government very much needed to consider the case and make the decision and there was no delay in making the announcement. No information is available on how the Commission will act and I would not have expected the Deputy to believe such information is available. We know there is a defined time for the decision and the Government has taken much cognisance of it.

As I am sure the Deputy is aware, Ryanair has produced a package aimed at overcoming competition issues. It is solely a matter for the European Commission to make a decision on this issue within a specified timeframe. The Government will await the Commission's decision.

The Government made the correct decision in this matter for many of the reasons the Deputy outlined. I am glad the Opposition welcomed our decision. We will sell the State's share in Aer Lingus under our policy of disposing of State assets. This will be done at the opportune time and when it is of the greatest economic benefit to the country to do so. None of us can predict when that will be, however.

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