Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has just acknowledged that he refused to answer questions here in the Dáil during Leaders' Questions and subsequently on this sell-off of Aer Lingus. However, what he did not admit was that at the same time he was briefing the media and Government Deputies about the machinations between the Government and IAG. The Taoiseach has also withheld documentation from the Dáil on this crucial strategic issue and said he has not read the Nyras report. Once again, the Taoiseach has dealt with the Dáil in an arrogant and unacceptable way. He did the same thing, infamously, with the Irish Water issue and with IBRC.

As we all know, Aer Lingus was a State company, built up over decades by Irish workers, taxpayers and citizens. It is a key, strategic asset for this island nation, not just for the State but for the entire island, and is both profitable and successful. However, this symbol of pride and national identity has been shamefully sabotaged by the current and the previous Government. Despite the Taoiseach's protestations, what the Government is doing is finishing off Fianna Fáil's work.

The fundamental issue here is that control over a key national strategic asset is to be handed over, lock, stock and barrel, to a multinational and this company will always put the profits and interests of its shareholders and board members before the interests of the Irish economy, this State or our citizens. Therefore, any assurances given by IAG about Aer Lingus should be given the same value as the 2011 election promises of Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Once Aer Lingus is gone, it is gone. The Taoiseach says the Government has been given guarantees that there will be no outsourcing of jobs or compulsory redundancies at Aer Lingus.

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