Shane Ross (Independent)

I endorse some of the comments of my colleagues about the dangers of a decision being made on Aer Lingus during the recess. There is a general principle involved here. I do not join the opportunist bellyaching which always comes from some parts of the House about a long recess but it would be extremely regrettable for the Government to use the recess as an opportunity for taking important decisions when the Dáil and Seanad cannot scrutinise them.

There is a danger that is exactly what is planned in respect of Aer Lingus. The one thing we know about Aer Lingus is that we do not know much about it. We know nothing of the terms of the proposed privatisation or flotation. The detail is so important that it will decide the merit of the flotation and privatisation. There are people on all sides of the argument who have large stakes in the result of the negotiations.

The workforce has a vital interest in what will happen but taxpayers and investors also have an interest in it. One interest bounces off another. It would be a grave insult to this House to wake up in September and find that Aer Lingus has been sold for a song and we can do nothing about it. It would be absolutely wrong if this flotation were to take place without the Dáil and Seanad knowing anything about how it will happen.