Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this motion. This issue is very important and we must have a proper debate on all aspects of the sale of the State's share in Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus is our national airline and most Irish people had their first flight on an Aer Lingus plane. I had mine in the 1980s when I flew to the United States of America on one of the old 747s out of Shannon Airport. We all remember the advertising slogan, "Look up, it's Aer Lingus" and everyone would like that to continue. I wish to compliment the staff who have worked for Aer Lingus over the years. They have always been friendly and proud to work for our national carrier. The Aer Lingus emblem was the first thing that many people saw when they came to our country many years ago because it was the only airline that flew in and out of Ireland.

I do not know why we have to railroad this decision through and vote on it today. We need a fuller debate on the sale of the airline. There has been no committee debate on this issue. The prospect of a sale has been in the public domain since December, when Willie Walsh made his initial offer but Willie Walsh will not always be with IAG. What will happen in seven years' time if there is a new chief executive at IAG? Will the guarantees with regard to Aer Lingus still stand?

Stobart Air operates under the Aer Lingus Regional brand. It started off in Galway as a small airline servicing the Aran Islands. Pádraig Ó Céidigh took it over and built it up as Aer Arann with flights between Ireland and the United Kingdom. More than 400 people work in Stobart Air and this is proposed to increase to possibly 500 people. What commitment has been given to them? What job security do those who work in Aer Lingus Regional and Stobart Air have? Did the Minister have any discussions with Stobart Air on the implications of this sale on Aer Lingus Regional? Stobart Air relies 100% technically on Aer Lingus. It provides a great service regionally between Ireland and Britain. When Mr. Noel Dempsey was Minister for Transport, I worked with him to get Aer Lingus to work with Aer Arann because it did not make economic sense to have a big jet taking off in Dublin and landing in Manchester or Liverpool. It was better to use turboprop aircraft.

Has the Minister had any discussions with Stobart Air? Has any commitment been given to Aer Lingus Regional over the 400 jobs? What is to prevent Mr. Willie Walsh in two or three years time downsizing Aer Lingus to provide a regional service? He can do that because with the jobs commitment he has given to Aer Lingus he has to keep people employed there. In his reply I would like the Minister to outline to the House the guarantees that have been given to the employees of Aer Lingus Regional. Can the same guarantees that have been given to Aer Lingus staff be given to the staff of Aer Lingus Regional? Those 400 employees of a small regional airline are very concerned about what is happening. No one has mentioned this in the past two days of debate in the House. I raise the matter because the airline started in my constituency. Before the debate finishes, I would like a commitment from the Minister that there will be job security for the staff at Stobart Air.

I will be voting against the motion this evening simply because we are not having a proper debate on it. It is a huge issue to sell our national carrier. We are an island nation. Aer Lingus has done exceptionally well over the years, through recessions and wars. It has provided a great service and it is an airline that will survive. The IAG takeover comes down to one issue, which is to get at the Heathrow slots for the long-haul flights to Australia and Asia. That is the motive behind it.

In his reply I ask the Minister to give some sort of comfort to the 400 staff in Aer Lingus Regional, the vast majority of whom are based in Ireland. It flies out of Shannon and Dublin airports. It is important to give a commitment to the employees of Stobart Air and give them the same guarantees that have been given to Aer Lingus employees.

See this speech in context