Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Murphy and the Technical Group for allowing me some of their time to speak on this important matter. The Government has handled this issue very badly. I am totally against the sale of this State asset. The Government had an opportunity today to act by accepting Deputy Dooley's proposal to defer the vote on this matter. The deal is being rushed. It is too serious to begin talking about it on Tuesday and rush a vote on it this evening before the House rises. It is a mistake. It is a serious matter that could have very long-term implications for Ireland, the workers and the future of travel to and from the country. To ask Deputies to discuss and vote on the issue within a couple of days without being in possession of all the facts on what exactly is on the table is wrong. As with other Deputies, I believe this has more to do with the Labour Party and the way the Government is holding together than anything else. The Minister is not doing the country a good service by rushing the vote on the sale of this very valuable State asset.

Let me return to a point already made by Deputy Paul Murphy on what exactly is being got for the sale. In the future, people will look back and ask what was wrong with the current Government to make it sell its share in the airline for the sum of money in question. I believe this question will be asked in the future, if not now.

With regard to the way in which the deal will affect the workers in the future, reports suggest that maintenance will be outsourced outside this country. How much money will we lose if such actions are to take place? We are trying at all times to keep work in this country for the people who are born and bred here. We want to keep our own people working ahead of anybody else and do not see anything wrong with saying that. The sale of this asset will not help in this regard.

I am worried about the implications for jobs, business and tourism. Aer Lingus served us well over the years. It is our flagship carrier and we are all so proud of it. In 1979, for instance, the Pope was brought to Ireland on an Aer Lingus flight. The Irish soccer team was brought home by Aer Lingus. We were all proud on those occasions. To lose the State's stake in our national airline is wrong.

Everybody will have suggestions about what should be done with the small amount of money to be derived from the sale. If the Government is to get its way and rush through this sale, the money should be used to build, as a matter of urgency, our new children's hospital in the interest of looking after sick young children. If the Government wants to put money to good purpose, that would be a good one to put some of it towards. People would certainly appreciate that.

Let me refer to our small regional airports, such as Kerry Airport, and to connectivity and the importance of having regional airports. They provide a great service and have affordable flights. I, too, acknowledge the work of Michael O'Leary and Ryanair over many years in reducing the cost of air travel. Mr. O'Leary, his colleagues and those who work for them deserve great credit for building up a great business over the years. That people can fly affordably is in no small way due to Michael O'Leary and Ryanair. This must be acknowledged in the House. We often hear Deputies criticising people who do well for themselves in business but I hold the opposite view. I like to acknowledge the contribution businesspeople make to society, the wealth and work they create, and the service they give. It is not right for politicians to knock continuously some of the bigger players in this country. I do not agree with their doing so. If we had more such bigger players, the country might not be in the state it is in.

Again, I thank the Technical Group for allowing me some of its time.

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