Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and the officials. I wish the Minister of State every success in the forthcoming European election. I am privileged to know Aer Lingus from many different angles, first as a young person coming to the city in the 1960s, as a customer and as a supplier. When I came to Dublin in 1962, the Aer Lingus air hostess was an icon for young Irish women, in the way that the Russian ballerinas are icons and role models for Russian women. Right through time they have been impeccably groomed, professional and role models for women. Due to the marriage bar, I had to give up my job in the Civil Service in 1969, but I had a skill and was able to walk into a job in the architects' department in Aer Rianta after my honeymoon. In 1969, I experienced modern management for the first time when the then chief executive of Aer Lingus, Mr. Michael Dargan, would join the staff for lunch at a different table each day. This was revolutionary, as the style of management here as in the UK was hierarchical, with the bosses having their own restaurant, carpark and so on. I was spellbound to be sitting at lunch with Mr. Dargan.

I have listened to all the contributions on this Bill but my interpretation is different. Senator Ross said the 14.9% staff equity would be off-putting to private investors. I do not see why that is the case. The Aer Lingus staff have earned their share of the company. Aer Lingus is a flag ship company and was the first to brand the image of Ireland abroad. Long before Baileys was ever heard of, Aer Lingus was the most well known brand and everything about it was perfection and professional.

Public sector expansion was the culture of the mid-1970s and was encouraged in the 1977 Fianna Fáil budget as a way of dealing with unemployment. I do not condemn Aer Lingus management for the company's financial difficulties because the culture was to take on more public sector employees. With the benefit of hindsight, one can say that was not the correct thing to do. However, the company had to face the stark reality of competition and the late Mr. Bernie Cahill, who was outstanding, put forward a plan and succeeded in getting Aer Lingus back on track. It was a tragedy that he died suddenly. Let me say categorically that I do not blame anybody in Aer Lingus for the over expansion because, among others, I benefited from public sector expansion.

In the late 1990s, the economy contracted. At a time when the Government intended to prepare Aer Lingus for the initial offering, industrial relations problems arose in Aer Lingus, as well as foot and mouth disease and the events of 11 September 2001 in the US. With the effects of foot and mouth and 11 September 2001, the contraction in business at the airport was frightening. My experience of trading with Lir chocolates in Dublin Airport at that time was a disaster. The contraction in international air travel put pressure on all airlines around the world.

Senator McDowell presented a pessimistic scenario, but people will come to Ireland if we have something good to offer them. It is the law of supply and demand. The purpose of the Bill is to ensure that Aer Lingus employees benefit from 14.9% in the employee share ownership trust. As I said already, one of the main factors driving the success of the Celtic tiger has been the relationship between unions and employers.