I might make the point to the Deputy that, regardless of the age of the aircraft, very stringent safety standards apply to the airworthiness certification process of the Air Navigation Services office, I might also point out the excellent safety record of Aer Lingus. Despite the age of such aircraft, it would not be correct to suggest that they were in some way substandard, because that is not the case. Quite clearly, should the cost reduction programme and survival strategy of the company be implemented, thereby generating extra revenue and greater profitability, the ability to replace aircraft in the future will be greatly enhanced. That is provided for in the survival strategy planned to begin in 1995-96, but in the first instance one must generate the type of revenue that will allow that to happen. Quite clearly, one need not examine outright purchase, as in the case of the European fleet, which got the company into severe difficulty but rather the type of very competitive leasing arrangements now available, given the present state of the aerospace industry worldwide. It is within that context that one would examine this overall area.
I must re-emphasise Aer Lingus' excellent safety record, comparable with any other airline worldwide, of which they are proud and the very high safety standards applied by the Air Navigation Services office. In no way are any of these aircraft substandard. Their replacement would be greatly enhanced in the future through this company achieving the type of cost reductions necessary to generate the requisite revenues for that purpose.