Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I concur with Senator Brian Hayes and have no doubt that Margaret Hassan has been murdered. Her sisters were on television and said that if they knew Margaret was dead they would feel relieved. One can imagine the trauma of their daily lives, wondering what she was going through. It is quite horrific.

Senator Brian Hayes also raised the issue of Aer Lingus and spoke of the sharp difference in policy between the Government parties. He sought a debate on the matter. We should publish the Goldman Sachs report, seize the day and move on with it.

Senator O'Toole also sought a debate on Aer Lingus and I agree with him that there are not only three people concerned. A discussion with the stakeholders is needed. We have all been speaking in a roundabout way but nobody has referred to the board and its chairman who has the responsibility to approach the major stakeholder, namely, the Minister, and tell him what is happening at board level. There has been a remarkable lacuna on the part of the current acting chairman of the Aer Lingus board. The chairman, rather than the chief executive, has the responsibility to act as a conduit between the board and the Minister. The two previous chairmen were most punctilious in that regard.

Senator Ryan referred to Senator O'Toole as a former socialist but I would stand up for Senator O'Toole in this regard because he was always a socialist.