David Norris (Independent)

I am grateful to my colleagues for allowing me some time to speak on this issue. This was a ruthless executive decision taken in a business context. From the parameters of one perspective, this was a correct decision because the guidelines were entirely economic and directors might have been found to have been neglectful of their responsibilities were they to fail to make the greatest possible profit. However, as the route was already profitable, this was not a necessary decision.

Senator Ellis was Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport on which I served and this was one reason I spoke and voted against the privatisation of Aer Lingus. One hears much about privatisation and competition and I completely disagree with my distinguished colleague, Senator Ross, when he speaks about Ryanair and Aer Lingus. While this action was meant to produce competition, the first thing to happen was that Michael O'Leary tried to use Ryanair to gobble up Aer Lingus and establish a monopoly. We would have lost a State monopoly only to gain a monopoly whose only interests were greed and the wealth of a small number of individuals.

This was also a political decision and the Government undoubtedly knew about it.