Results 27,981-28,000 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: Now at a time of growth we can look at that track record in times of difficulty. We can look at the legal framework the Government is introducing. We can look at the written assurances from the chief executive of Aer Lingus and that gives my Government colleagues the confidence-----
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: -----to know that these commitments will be implemented. I again acknowledge Aer Lingus's great success in recent years.
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: It has responded to the challenges of the global financial crisis and of the events of 9 September 2001. Its management, leaders, workers and unions have collectively risen to those challenges and have done a tremendous job. However, what is underpinning the recommendation and the decision before the Dáil this afternoon is the simple and fundamental acknowledgement of what is happening...
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: -----while remaining as a separate business with its own brand, management and operations.
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: In addition, the board of Aer Lingus has expressed the view that, as part of this group, it will have more opportunities to manage risk and accelerate its growth plans and should be in a stronger position to respond to the commercial challenges.
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: The Government made the decision to reject the approach from Ryanair early in our term of office. When I made the decision not to accept the initial approach from IAG, we did not hear a word from the Opposition about it. It was struck in dumb silence on the matter.
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: There were no calls for a debate to focus on it.
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: The Government rejected that proposal then because we believed the best deal was not then secured for our country, for Aer Lingus or for its workers. We rejected that deal then and we have secured a better deal because working with Cabinet colleagues, and backbench Deputies and Senators in both parties we have advanced the cause of the company, its workers and passengers for the years to come.
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: Despite initial reservations, some of which I shared and which led to my rejection of the earlier offer from IAG, Deputies in government in both parties engaged with me on this matter. They engaged with the company and the unions and they laid out to me, as Minister, matters of concern in a clear, responsible and, at times, forceful manner. There were Deputies on the Government benches who...
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: Rather, they sought to use their offices - as Ministers and Deputies - to seek assurances for those they were elected to represent and I commend them for that. As Minister, I did my best to respond to the points that were made. Indeed, they were crucial in determining the criteria for evaluating the initial proposal and fundamental to the agreement secured by this Government. I want to...
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: That is what this agreement is about and why I am putting the motion to the House this evening. The same passion and ambition has not been evident from others in this House. I must say that I am particularly struck by the cowardice of Fianna Fáil in this matter. The party that privatised 75% of Aer Lingus ---
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: The party that bankrupted our country is now playing politics with this great company.
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: During the recent debate, Fianna Fáil members praised the management of Aer Lingus for turning the company around. Then, in the same breath, they castigated the same management for selling out the workers and looking to advance an agenda they do not have. The Deputies opposite cannot have it both ways. They cannot stand up in the House and say on the one hand that the leadership of...
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: Fianna Fáil, having secured practically no guarantees when it sold Aer Lingus, is now, for nakedly political purposes, opposing a deal which includes guarantees and which brings benefits to the country. To make matters worse, Deputy Martin, a man whose sole legacy to Irish aviation is the scale of the debt on Cork Airport ---
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: --- referred yesterday to the Nyras report and claimed that it was commissioned last February by Aer Lingus and IAG. It was nothing of the sort. Deputy Martin either did not know the facts, which shows a shameful inadequacy on his behalf as leader ---
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: ---or did know and misled the House. The work of Nyras was commissioned solely by Aer Lingus. It had nothing to do with IAG and it has nothing to do with the deal currently being debated by this House.
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Martin’s contribution was only matched in its absurdity by another claim from a Fianna Fáil Deputy who said the following about Aer Lingus: “tomorrow it will be owned by the Arabs”. That is complete nonsense.
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: Fianna Fáil now stands separate to every major business organisation in this country in not welcoming this deal. The party that bankrupted our country-----
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: -----is now bankrupt of economic vision or any long term economic plan. To quote their former party colleague-----
- Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)
Paschal Donohoe: -----Senator Averil Power-----