Government has failed to put people before profit in Aer Lingus Heathrow pull out

Home

Sections

Letters

Written by Administrator

Wednesday, 15 August 2007

A Chara

When the Irish Government decided to sell our national airline to the highest bidder, it engaged in the usual blame Brussels scenario, when it informed us that the European Commission would not allow them to invest in Aer Lingus. Subsequent communication from the Commission showed this to be untrue.
Having placed Aer Lingus on the market there was then huge consternation when Ryanair bid for a substantial shareholding - the cheek of Michael O’Leary one of the ‘bad guys’ to dare to bid for one of the ‘good guys’ - Aer Lingus – one of our own. We then went back to the European Commission begging them to save us from ourselves and not allow Ryanair gain control of Aer Lingus.

Isn’t it ironic that when the good guys in Aer Lingus seriously damage the economic foundations of the Mid West and West region by cutting off access to the most important economic and tourist hub in the world – Heathrow, that the bad guy rides to the rescue offering to work with the Government in an effort to ensure that Aer Lingus maintains its Shannon-Heathrow service.

It just goes to show there are no good guys or bad guys, private companies have only one obligation: to maximise profit for their shareholders, it’s profit before people. However Governments have a responsibility to put people before profit. This they have failed to do in this instance.

If there are any bad guys in this situation, I would point the finger at those who facilitated the privatisation of Aer Lingus, put at risk specific access to and from Ireland and consequently undermined the economic development of the Mid West and West.

Perhaps there is some consolation for Government in all of this; maybe we will add a few more millionaires to our growing list at the end of this year – some shareholders in Aer Lingus perhaps?

Marian Harkin MEP

Comments (0) »