Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with that point in a moment. The Senator may not have been here earlier or yesterday. The reality is that the Fine Gael Party would sell. However, from the perspective of the Labour Party, the number of U-turns its members have done over the past four years means their heads must be spinning. The founders of the Labour Party must be spinning in their graves because of what the party is allowing to be done to the strategic interests of this State. I will explain again for those who are a little bit slow on the uptake that the reason the 25.1% stake was kept was to protect the State's interest in the airline. The 75% that was sold was invested in the airline for new airplanes, new staff, to improve the company and to make the company profitable and viable.This company is profitable and has nearly €1 billion in cash reserves. It carried more than 11 million passengers last year. Based on the record of British Airways, in terms of what it does with airlines it takes over, the whole move towards consolidation is bad for consumers and is certainly bad for an island nation. While the Minister can spin it whatever way he wants, the reality is the Government has been sold a pup and is selling the State short.

I am disgusted with Deputy Joe Costello and others who made a big play at the Labour Party conference of getting a motion passed to stand up for Aer Lingus and its workers. They were going to stand up for the pensioners but they sold the pension scheme members down the river. I would say to those reading the transcript or watching this debate that if Fine Gael is re-elected, this will be the first of many. All it is about is cash. It is not good for Ireland or for jobs.

The Minister mentioned the Nyras report and yet the Taoiseach has admitted he did not even read it. It is not just a stand-alone report. Does the Minister think for one moment that Willie Walsh and IAG are not going to look at that report and identify where they can cut staff in Aer Lingus? It is outlined and given to them on a plate. That is what is going to happen.