(Limerick East): I put it to the Minister that he has an absolute responsibility to establish what the economic fare is on the London-Dublin route for Aer Lingus in particular, for two reasons. First, Aer Lingus has lost unconscionable sums of money during the past four years by selling below cost on the route to eliminate their competitors. The question is whether this was done by Aer Lingus management on their own or whether the Minister's Department would not sanction the fare increases requested. It is difficult to know where the truth lies, but both are blaming each other.
The second reason the Minister should establish what is the economic fare for Aer Lingus is that his officials will have to answer this question in Brussels. British Midland in its submission to the relevant Commissioner and Ryanair in its correspondence with the Commission claim that if one were to inject £175 million in equity into Aer Lingus on behalf of the Irish taxpayer, this will be used to sell seats below cost on the route once more. Therefore the Minister has an obligation to establish what the economic fare for Aer Lingus is.