Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would certainly accept an invitation to Senator O'Sullivan's house. Before I raise a matter with the Leader, I wish to congratulate the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, on yesterday's announcement of changes to the community involvement scheme, CIS, and the increase in the grant from 20% to 50%, dependent on the level of cash invested by the people living on the roads in question or whether they undertake some of the work with the councils. This is the only way that some roads in rural Ireland can be surfaced. I welcome the Minister's announcement.

Some time ago, the Minister announced that the local improvement scheme, LIS, would be reintroduced and that the councils would have the discretion to decide how much money to invest in same from their local road funds.

Will the Leader arrange a debate on yet another proposed takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair in the past week? The 43 slots in Heathrow are at stake, do not let anyone say otherwise. Interestingly, it cost Aer Lingus nearly ¤10 million to fight takeover bids last year alone, and ¤40 million in the past three years. While Aer Lingus is in profit, these amounts constitute a loss to a private company in which the State has a stake. It is ridiculous that ¤40 million has been wasted. It is for the Government to decide whether Aer Lingus will be taken over in the form of the sale of State assets.

We need a debate on transport, particularly air transport. Ryanair offered a three-year loan of ¤100 million to another company to try to get the second company into position to take over the Aer Lingus routes at Heathrow. A debate would be worthwhile. The action to date has been a waste of money for Aer Lingus, never mind what Ryanair has spent.