Vol. 487 No. 6
136 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the current position concerning the proposed strategic alliance for Aer Lingus; if she has set a revised timeframe for the strategic alliance mandate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4886/98]
By letter of 25 March 1997, my predecessor, Deputy Dukes, mandated the board of Aer Lingus to explore the possibilities of entering into a strategic alliance with or without the transfer of equity, and to submit proposals to the shareholder by the end of 1997.
The current position in relation to a possible strategic alliance for Aer Lingus remains as outlined in my reply to a question on this topic on 16 December 1997 — Reference No. 22751/97 — to which I refer the Deputy.
