Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

I echo and support the call for an urgent debate on the future of Aer Lingus. Yesterday, we had the spectacle of Willie Walsh being politically mugged at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport. Representatives of parties in this House vied with each other to cosy up to the unions to the greatest extent. In the first sentence of his presentation, Willie Walsh said the airline industry was returning to crisis and he went on to state that he had withdrawn his offer of an investment proposal. The Government had three months to consider the proposal but had not done so before it was withdrawn. As the major shareholder in Aer Lingus, the Government has a responsibility to the taxpayer. It is outlandish for Willie Walsh to have to continue to manage a business in such a competitive environment while waiting for the major shareholder to make a decision. I want the new Minister for Transport to come to the House to address the issue urgently.