Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has met Aer Lingus senior management and staff in the context of current industrial relations problems; his views on the staff and salary cutbacks that are being considered for Aer Lingus cabin crew; if he has been briefed by the three Government appointed directors to the board of Aer Lingus on this matter; the directions that he has given his board members in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12767/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Industrial relations at Aer Lingus are entirely a matter for the board, management and staff of Aer Lingus. The industrial relations machinery of the State remains available to assist the parties where difficulties exist.

The duties of the three Government appointed directors to the board of Aer Lingus derive from the Companies Acts and, as such, the directors are obliged to pursue the best interests of the company. Subject to that duty, the three Government appointed directors are mandated to seek to ensure that all decisions of the company that have significant implications for wider Government, aviation or regional development policies are considered at board level. In any such decisions they are directed to seek to reconcile commercial and public policy objectives.

The Government is satisfied, from all of the information available to it, that a major restructuring of the Group's cost base is essential if Aer Lingus is to return to profitability and growth. From an aviation policy perspective, the Government wants to see a strong viable Aer Lingus in the future. The cornerstones of Government aviation policy are competitiveness and connectivity and a viable Aer Lingus is key to ensuring the achievement of these objectives.