Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. It is the first time I have heard a representative of this Government accept that there are strategic issues in regard to the ownership of Aer Lingus and, in particular, the Minister has identified competition connectivity and employment in the State. He seems to have cast aside, to some extent, the issue of the Heathrow slots and he believes that the Government is not in a position to prevent a sale or lease, and perhaps that is right, although I would argue that by retaining Aer Lingus in its current format the chances are much better that the slots will be deployed for the use of the Irish people, will provide access and the appropriate level of connectivity following from that.

I ask the Minister to reflect to some extent on what the Irish Exporters Association said last year. It said, "The strategic importance of the Aer Lingus cargo facility for high-tech and life science exporters has not been given enough consideration by the Government". The Minister will be aware that Aer Lingus flights carry about 52% of the value of our exports and about 43% of all imports from the United States. Any changed ownership that might see a level of diminution of the current connectivity that Aer Lingus provides to the United States-----

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