Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In case the Minister was confused by my request and thought that one did not match with the other, my suggestion on the strike at Iarnród Éireann was that he needed to get on the record much earlier on providing subvention and increasing it in line with growth in the economy in accordance with demands. That is the Minister’s role and all that I suggested he do. I did not expect him to go to the Labour Relations Commission to resolve the issues. There are individuals in place to do that, but the Minister needed to participate in it for quite some time. The former Minister did the same in the past. In fairness to him, he put his hands in his pockets and commented from the sideline.

As there is no direct subvention from the State to the airport sector, I thought it was inappropriate for the Minister to involve himself at a time when the DAA is challenging the aviation regulator on the amount of the charge it can levy and setting out its own stall without necessarily living within the envelope provided to it. Taken in tandem with the Minister’s communication, it can only be seen as undue interference. Ryanair, its legal advisers and Aer Lingus clearly believe that to be the case, which is regrettable.

The Minister will also be aware that Aer Lingus believes that an increase in charges in line with his suggested policy may actually kill off the benefits created by the Government’s decision to axe the €3 travel tax. That is a direct statement from Aer Lingus and one which should give concern to all who have seen the upturn in tourism over the past several years, which has benefitted the State and the economy in general.

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