Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak to this issue. I acknowledge the Minister being here and I thank him for that. Some of us are on the transport committee and over the past few months we have seen people from both sides of the argument coming before the committee. One day we would listen to one side and another day we would listen to the other side; at the end, we had to assess the ups and downs, what is good for our nation and what will be beneficial to the country in future.

In my assessment, Dublin may survive and prosper but there is a red flag for Shannon and Cork. I am also wary that Knock does not seem to be mentioned at all. I know there was talk of improving the Cork to Gatwick route with more flights, etc., but for whatever reason, it did not seem to be worthwhile to discuss the airport at Knock when they debated the seven-year provision for Shannon and Cork. There is no figure for Knock whatever. I am surprised by this because in terms of regional development we must ensure that all the airports - Knock, Shannon, Cork or Dublin - be used to bring prosperity in each region. We must think about that into the future.

I intend to look further into a surprising element. If Mr. Walsh in England decides to return to Ireland and wants to buy something, it does not seem to be a problem, although the UK is still in the EU, but when an Irish company was talking about buying Aer Lingus, that was ruled out of order. It is ironic that after the British legal system was involved with the process of shares in another jurisdiction, all these bids were tabled.

The company has approximately €600 million in the bank and I have always said the price is very important. We are not getting a proper price for the laying hen, or an airline that has served this country so well. We must remember that we are an island nation, and we must ensure that we think strategically in holding assets that are good for our country. We must ensure that as an island nation, we will not be left to vultures that may come in and decide to use us for a while before going. The prosperity of our people - not now but in five, ten, 15 or 20 years - is very important.

I have heard all morning and yesterday that the Minister has brought guarantees of seven years for slots from Shannon and Cork. However, what can one do if in two, three or four years, we are told that the company had to do something different? What will happen if the company is sold again or IAG amalgamates with something else? Somebody may buy a business, for example.

It is for the person who buys it to run it as he or she sees fit. I do not buy into the argument that we will be able to press on IAG's toe and tell it to do this, that and the other because it said it would. That will not wash.

The first bad news that came yesterday was the loss of the 55 jobs. I accept that there may be more jobs in Dublin down the road, which would be welcome, but we need to understand that this is not all sunshine. There may be clouds on the way also. With a country like ours, we must ensure that we do the right thing now. We have looked at a strategic example like Eircom. Many people and Deputies one talks to today will say they are not sure it was a great idea to sell it given that we have encountered many problems since. When these things were being done, people acknowledged it and said it was for the improvement of the country. As with public transport and other strategic assets like airlines or airports, it may not always pay to have it. If one looks at the overall economic picture of bringing in business and creating employment, however, one finds that one may have to spend €1 to make €1.

We should have assessed this more. Down through the years, the one thing about Aer Lingus was that it was our airline and national carrier. The shamrock was the symbol of Ireland. There are no guarantees from now on. At one time, one heard on the advertisement, "Look up, it's Aer Lingus", but from tomorrow or next week it will be a case of "Look up, it's Willie Walsh".

I hope this is not a day we rue. In the likes of Cork Airport, numbers are going down while the airport is strategically very important for that part of the country. Shannon Airport is strategically important for the mid-west. It is sad that in the west we have a fine airport that is like an orphan. The Government seems to have forgotten about it.

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