David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to Senator Quinn for allowing me participate in this debate. We have consolidated so that if Senator Sean Barrett, who is our acknowledged expert in this area, comes in, he will be able to speak. I think he is at the banking inquiry, but I telephoned his office to alert it.

We should have an independent, stand-alone and State-owned airline. When the Fianna Fáil Government denationalised Aer Lingus, I spoke and voted against that. Like Senator Quinn said, I feel pride flying into London and elsewhere when I see a stack of Aer Lingus aeroplanes in their bright green colours.

It is peculiar that an English court would make a judgment on competition grounds against Ryanair's holding and then would seem to allow the amalgamation of two airlines without a squeak. I note there are also concerns about competition on the Government side, and I welcome that. This really needs to be looked into. It would be a very great irony if the release of Aer Lingus, or at least 25.1% of it, from national control led to a lack of competition.

I stated yesterday, and I believe strongly, that part of the €335 million or so gained from this sale should be set aside to resolve the disgraceful situation where Aer Lingus deferred pensioners have been squeezed out of their rightful entitlements, with a cut, in some cases, of 60%. I would ask every Member of this House how they would feel if their income was cut by 60%.