Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I attended a tense meeting of employees of Aer Lingus at Shannon Airport recently. They have fears that go beyond privatisation. The changing of the bilateral agreement may also cause problems for them at the airport. There are many talented people in that company with families and mortgages who are anxious about their futures and livelihoods in the Shannon region with Aer Lingus. I do not condone the action taken today but I feel it is understandable that they should express this frustration because they are caught in a spider's web between the company, the Government and their unions. Their situation should be clarified as soon as possible to allay the fears and anxieties of the workers and to return the company to normal so it can provide its service and develop.

The Government announced a €4 billion innovation plan.