Shane Ross (Independent)

The Senator will not be getting that for a long time, not even from the NUJ. When we talk about the role of the unions in the airports, we must remember that it was they who closed them down when Ryanair was embroiled in controversy. The unions did not show loyalty and sacrifice when it was needed and did a huge amount of damage to the image of Ireland abroad when they closed down the airport. Therefore, we cannot rely on the unions, whether the airline is under State or private ownership. There is no great loyalty attached to the State models by the unions who aspire to having made that great sacrifice. The sacrifice in question was expedient and remains so. Let us not place too much hope that they will show the same sort of loyalty in the private sector as they claim to have in the public sector.