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Air Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2004

Thursday, 27 May 2004

Questions (31, 32, 33, 34)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

14 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if recent decisions have been made on the future of Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15938/04]

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Michael D. Higgins

Question:

22 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he is planning to bring forward to Cabinet proposals for the sale of Aer Lingus by September 2004; the likely timescale for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15893/04]

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Michael D. Higgins

Question:

76 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he is still considering the privatisation of Aer Lingus in view of the company’s record €83 million profit recorded in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15892/04]

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Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

176 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the state of the discussions between his Department, management and unions in regard to the future of Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16085/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 22, 76 and 176 together.

I have already outlined the position in relation to Aer Rianta in response to Priority Questions Nos. 1 and 2. With regard to Aer Lingus, I have previously indicated to the House that I recently advised my Cabinet colleagues of the current state of my deliberations concerning the future of Aer Lingus. I also advised that I will be reverting to Government on specific options for the company in the near future. My deliberations, which are ongoing at present, involve detailed consideration of the reports from the chairman of Aer Lingus and an independent corporate finance consultant whom I commissioned to look at the sale options for the company.

If the Government decides to embark on a sale of all or part of Aer Lingus, I will be consulting with the Aer Lingus board, management and unions. In addition, in such an eventuality, I will set out for the House, in accordance with the provisions of the Aer Lingus Act 2004, the general principles of the proposed sale as well as the basis for the Government's decision and the arguments for and against such a sale. I will also set out how the Government proposes to deal with important strategic issues such as slots at Heathrow Airport.

Question No. 15 answered with QuestionNo. 11.
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