I appreciate the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, has come to the House to deal with this matter. The motion refers to the urgent need for Aer Lingus to resume its cargo and courier operations due to the devastating effect the suspension of these services has on businesses in the Munster region, in particular Irish businesses which have to resort to purchasing seats on aeroplanes for staff to transport goods to clients.
This is probably not clear to people who are not involved in this area. The cargo operation which has been run by Aer Lingus out of Cork Airport was due to be withdrawn on 1 January next. The businesses in the region were hugely upset by this because they realised very quickly that it would have a devastating effect on the cargo business in the Munster region. We have been asking for some considerable time that Aer Lingus reconsider its position. However, on 20 November the cargo service was withdrawn much earlier than expected because Swissport, the international carrier used by Aer Lingus, went into liquidation. The decision of Aer Lingus to suspend cargo operations has a devastating effect on many Irish-based exporting companies, some of which are resorting to sending goods on aeroplanes with passengers in the absence of the courier service, which Aer Lingus operated on a flexible basis.
In recent days, businesses in Cork have had to cope without Aer Lingus cargo operations. When the company announced the decision in August, I warned that the move would have serious negative consequences for companies based in Cork, particularly export companies, including important multinationals, and so it has transpired. The impact is much worse than initially feared as not only have all cargo operations ceased but Aer Lingus's hitherto flexible courier service is a thing of the past.
Companies based in the Munster region are being forced to send staff members on flights to get goods or products to clients. The additional costs incurred and manpower wasted will surely force many companies to rethink whether they wish to be based in the region. As a national airline in public ownership, there should be an obligation on Aer Lingus management to have regard for the broader national interest. Both the company and the Government should take note of the warning from the Irish Exporters Association that if distribution out of Ireland becomes difficult, companies will move to Holland, France or Germany where distribution is easier.
There is much focus on the future of Aer Lingus. Developments such as these raise further serious questions about the wisdom of privatisation. Aer Lingus has a duty to supply these services and I call on the company to reverse the decision to abandon its cargo and courier services.
I received a letter from a freight company which operates successfully from the airport business park in Cork. It states:
Regarding Aer Lingus cargo closure I am getting a lot of panic calls from both clients and companies we have not dealt with in the past concerning this closure. The more well known companies such as EMC/Apple/Resound/ADM/Johnson & Johnson are now very concerned with the closure. Aer Lingus have already suspended cargo operations since last Monday due to their handling agent Swissport going into liquidation.
The companies are now feeling its effect. The courier operation, which was flexible in nature, has also gone. The letter gave an example of its impact. One client had to put a member of staff on a morning flight to London — they were lucky to get the seat — to carry an item worth €10, and the ticket cost €220. There were also incidental expenses, such as having lunch and waiting for a return flight. No company can sustain such costs.
People in Cork are getting sick and tired of what happens to them when something goes wrong with Aer Lingus in Dublin. I am not demeaning the fact that the national carrier at one stage refused to carry the bodies of people who wished to be buried in Ireland. It is a sensitive subject. However, this decision is equally important for the Munster region. The Minister should call on the board of Aer Lingus to reverse the decision as a matter of urgency.