Labour Senator and candidate for Dublin North Central, Senator Derek McDowell, has called on the Government to abandon any plans for the privatisation of Aer Lingus in the wake of the Irish Ferries dispute.
He said what he described as 'the shameful behaviour' of Irish Ferries had highlighted the strategic importance of travel routes, which were critical to continued economic success. Senator McDowell said business organisations were counting the cost of the disruption caused by the ferries row, and the same situation could not be allowed to develop in relation to the airways.
'It is not difficult for example to imagine a company like Ryanair advocating an Irish Ferries type solution for its operations,' he said.
Senator McDowell said it was in the country's strategic interest that Aer Lingus be retained in public ownership to ensure that access to and from Irish airports would be retained.
'The recent turnaround in the company's performance has been achieved within the public sector, and as is usually the case, with the cooperation of the workforce and the trade unions. There is no evidence to suggest this company will perform any better in the private sector,' he said.
But he said that retaining the state airline in public ownership was the surest form of protection against 'the disruption caused by Irish Ferries'.
