Madam, - It is perhaps fortuitous for the Irish people that the Government has brought the Aer Lingus 2003 Bill before the Dáil at the same time as Tony O'Reilly is cosying up to the financial markets in an attempt to resell the bits of Eircom that didn't pique his appetite.
That the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, is recommending this Bill - which includes an enabling provision to allow the State divest of its shares at some point in the future - at a time when the State's finances are under continuing pressure demonstrates both extreme short-sightedness and utter disregard for the public interest.
Indeed, some of Mr Brennan's comments in the Dáil on the enabling provision display a total misunderstanding of what the public interest even is. He has stated that "it is what is good for Aer Lingus that counts" - a sentiment that sits ill with his role as guardian of the State's transport infrastructure.
Even a casual appreciation of what constitutes the public interest would highlight the dangers of a small island economy reliant heavily on tourism becoming dependent on the machinations of the private aviation industry.
The Minister has even had the temerity to suggest that privatisation is the best option because this is what is favoured by the Aer Lingus board.
Of course the Minister has raised the ubiquitous banner of EU legislation to defend his proposals, stating that current legislation prevents State intervention in national airlines. This is true to the extent that the State cannot fund airline losses, but does not preclude State investment in airlines.
The notion of our national airline - built with taxpayers' money and created to serve the transport and communication needs of the Irish people - being owned and ruthlessly managed by a major private carrier such as British Airways is alarmingly less fanciful than we might care to believe.- Yours, etc.,
GARRETH McDAID, St Raphael's Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare.