Shane Ross (Independent)

If Aer Lingus is to be floated, we need to seriously examine the costs. In the case of the Eircom flotation, a scandalous amount of money was given to the advisers. The Government and taxpayers were ripped off by a host of advisers who were paid far too much money. I cannot, nor can anyone else, justify the €60 million in fees for work which was not particularly demanding or rewarding nor, in retrospect, was it skilful or successful. The Minister of State will remember the difficulties and the controversy which attached to the flotation of Eircom. The price was in dispute and the argument about whether it was too high or too low continues to this day.

There is no doubt the advice the Minister and the Minister of State will pay for in the case of Aer Lingus will be conflicting, arguable, highly subjective and, I would guess, not worth the sort of fees which are being paid. This is an important point which the Minister of State should bear in mind. There must be a saving for taxpayers from paying the sorts of enormous fees which are paid by the private sector for advice of dubious value.

When we talk about vital interests and Senator O'Toole's unions because, after all, the Senator speaks in this House for all the unions regularly — it is a mantle he has taken on and is welcome to——