WILL WE LOOK TO THE EU TO SAVE US FROM OURSELVES

Suggestions that the EU had blocked further investment by the Irish Government in Aer Lingus were being used as an excuse for privatisation.  This was strongly criticised in the European Parliament by the Independent MEP Marian Harkin.

In her address to the Parliament, Marian Harkin said :-

“I wish to raise a European perspective on the proposed takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair.

“Until recently, Aer Lingus was the Irish national carrier and in state ownership.  It was in a healthy economic situation but needed to raise finance to renew its fleet.

“The Irish Government said that the EU would not permit any state investment in the airline – which is news to me as I understand that a state has flexibility in investing in airlines if they are in a healthy economic position – as Aer Lingus was.

“This is another example of the “blame Brussels” mentality whereby a national Government can explain its own actions by saying “Oh the EU won’t allow that” – when in fact this is not necessarily the case.

“However – that’s history and we now have Aer Lingus being targeted in a takeover bid by its main rival, Ryanair.  In a way, it’s ironic that, on the one  hand we blame the EU for the current situation when in fact no blame attaches, while on the other hand we will undoubtedly make a case to the Competition Directorate to block the takeover – in fact to save us from ourselves and protect us from the consequences of our own actions”.