asked the Taoiseach when and in what terms the Board of Aer Lingus pressed on him the decision to proceed with the transatlantic air development referred to by him in Dáil Éireann on the 15th July, 1959.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transatlantic Air Development.
4.
The Board of Aer Rianta, which is the policy making body, sought and obtained an interview with me on 29th October, 1957. My reference to Aer Lingus in this connection was intended to be a reference to Aer Rianta.
The Board informed me that they had been giving exhaustive and serious consideration to the possibility of starting an Irish transatlantic air service and had come to the conclusion that, in the light of the circumstances then obtaining, a decision should be taken to establish the service, and that the time was appropriate for such a development.
The main considerations which had led the Board to this conclusion were (i) that valuable time had already been lost and that it was desirable to establish the service before the jet age should begin, (ii) that the introduction of the new 3rd class fare on the North Atlantic presented a new opportunity to get the Irish service into operation and (iii) the prospect of a leasing arrangement which would obviate the need to purchase aircraft at a time of rapid obsolescence of the aircraft then in operation.
In view of the fact that it now transpires that no view was pressed upon him by Aer Lingus— that he meant to say Aer Linte—does the Taoiseach not think it might have been appropriate when his attention was first drawn to this misprint in the Official Report to have informed the Dáil that there was some misunderstanding?
The difference is very slight.
The difference, I can assure the Taoiseach, would be regarded very seriously.