Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Bannon with regard to small village and rural water and sewerage schemes. Obviously there is a large backlog but it is not a question of money. The allocations provided by the Minister for Finance have not been drawn down over the last number of years. It is important that the Minister, and perhaps the Minister for Finance, indicate how these schemes can be kick-started. There is a large number of these schemes, several of them in west Clare, so it is an important issue.

There are media reports of a proposal being put to Aer Lingus staff in anticipation of the selling of part of Aer Lingus later this year. There is widespread concern in Shannon about job security in the event of these changes taking place, while there is a widespread national concern that the future of the national airline be secured in any new arrangement. Perhaps the Minister for Transport could come to the House to indicate what stage the negotiations are at. He has been involved in negotiations with the unions and the unions have been in discussions with Aer Lingus. At this stage the matter is coming to a head and it is urgent that the Seanad have a debate on it.