Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

I tabled a question to the Minister for Finance who, as the Minister, Deputy Howlin, correctly said, is the shareholder, but he would not even answer that question. He transferred it from the Department back to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. What we have in the answer to this question is the idea of sharing responsibility or off-loading it, depending on what way one looks at it.

The workers involved, and, indeed, many business and tourist interests, may ask what interest IAG could possibly have for the Irish economy and workers in return for a paltry €300 million. In a company that is already returning new dividends annually, that amount would be sucked up pretty quickly. IAG has nothing positive to offer Aer Lingus. Its involvement is only concerned with expanding its own business interests. Despite any assurances on the Heathrow slots, they would not be worth the paper they are written on.

Will the Minister comment on the fact that when IAG took over Iberia, 5,000 people lost their jobs? A pro ratafigure for Aer Lingus would be in the region of 1,200 jobs. Undoubtedly, senior executive decision-making would transfer to London with perhaps a small presence here in Dublin. Can the Minister comment on the economic impact of the loss of those jobs on the Exchequer?

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