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One hint in press release following Cabinet meeting
Read more about: Connaught-Ulster, End of Shannon-Heathrow, Fianna Fail, Government, Munster, Transport, Travel & Tourism
Here’s the text of the (hastily written?) press release from the Department of Transport following the Cabinet meeting on Shannon-Heathrow today. The statement is mostly the familiar litany from the government and avoids the issue of the call for an Aer Lingus EGM or the purpose of the 25 percent shareholding. But there might be one little bit of specificity in it, indicating that someone (Willie?) was forcing a little clarity in the discussions.
The statement says –
It was agreed that the Minister for Transport, on behalf of Government, would do all in his power to assist the Shannon Airport Authority to secure alternative London Heathrow services.
Note the specific reference to Heathrow services, which may be a sign that the earlier FF talking point about Stansted-Luton-Gatwick being enough has been abandoned.
Dempsey is a complete and utter gimp. he was on today fm today accusing those in the west of exaggerating the effect Shannon-Heathrow would have on the region, yet in the same interviewed he admitted that it could not be quantified.
How do you exaggerate something that cannot be quantified?
This government has no intention of using it’s shareholding to act in the national interest, It wants to be see to be placating those up north with some sort of peace divident, however, both shannon and belfast could run if Aer Lingus wanted it to, and they could make money out of shannon anyway.
Aer Lingus is a public company. I am unsure what Squid means by “the national interest”. Shannon can survive without being propped up by government.
All it takes is a good product; hard work the will to prosper. This can only be achieved if there is no outside interference.
After all, its origins were a fluke – the necessity of cross Atlantic airplanes to refuel.
What is deplorable is the company being used as a political football.
For too long it was operated as a branch of the civil service with all its concomitant problems; job security; antediluvian work practices; guaranteed pensions; massive trade union
interference; the entire overseen by bonehead incompetents like Mary O’Rourke & Martin Cullen.
Seamus Brennan tried to introduce some 21st century efficiency and, promptly, ran foul of the trade unions.
To such an extent, that Bertie Ahern sacked him in the most despicable cowardly way – for no better reason than that he was upsetting Bertie’s best buddies in the “Brotherwood of the Doss”. And one has only to recall Ahern’s rant against Willie Walshe, who dragged the company screaming from its entrenched civil service foxhole.
The very idea of profit is repugnant to Ahern, a concept he learnt after his Pauline conversion to the poverty Party of Sean Healy of CORI – he who considers it undignified to have only one motor car etc…
With almost 100% employment, trade union leaders are redundant. With nothing to bleat about, they hog TV air time and pontificate. Begg; O’Connor; Halpenny and the other beards & sandals have made personal fortunes from the subscriptions of their members, paying themselves in excess of €250,000 annually.
Consider the other privatisation – Eircom – and what Con Scanlon did. As a consequence of what he bargained for his “Members” he is now a very rich man.
And the best of good luck to him. Like all entrepreneurs, he spotted an opportunity & jumped in.
Aer Lingus is now a business, not a retirement home. If the idea of hard work means that it is too hot in the kitchen, the “brotherhood” should get out and let those who can make the company prosper get on with it.
Like Michael O’Leary.
As for the political implications – well Labour no longer represents the underclasses. This function has been taken over by IRA/Sinn Fein. Bertie will continue to try & featherbed the civil service unions…
… and the rest of us will have to suffer the outrageous delays & cancellation; extortionate landing fees; extra charges…
… all brought on by the incompetence of Fianna Fail ministers.