Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy was wrong when she said the benefits I mentioned were already there. There was no guarantee of four new routes from the US and there was not the same impact in terms of the growth pattern for passengers coming through Ireland yesterday. We did not have the influence and certainty that will now exist, because the Minister for Finance will hold a veto, on behalf of the people, in respect of the disposal of Aer Lingus's Heathrow slots. That certainty was not in place previously. I pointed out to Deputies Adams and Martin what happened when Aer Lingus decided to move from Shannon to Belfast The Government of the day was powerless to act due to the weakness of the deal that the previous Administration had done in privatising Aer Lingus in the first place.

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