Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Dooley is very much an island because he cannot remember how Fianna Fáil sold off 75% in the recent past. He is not in a position to cast any stones in this Chamber. It is important to realise that we live in a global economy.

The Government has spoken about a windfall to the regions. My understanding is that State aid cannot be given directly to the airports. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund was mentioned by the Minister for Finance. What is in this fund? I understand it contains between €5 billion and €6 billion. It was set up 18 months ago and somewhere in the region of only €100 million has been circulated. It is a mechanism that is not working, the Government is going to change it and here we are talking about it as a vehicle for getting money out to the regions. In his response, I would like the Minister to tell us how the windfall to the regions will happen, the status of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, how much money is in it, how much money from it has been invested since its inception and if he intends to route money through it from the sale of Aer Lingus.

In a nutshell, I very much support the sale.

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