Week’s events: Aer Lingus, Grangegorman DIT and local fora in Phibsborough, Mountjoy and Cabra

2nd February, 2015

This week began with a third approach being made by International Airlines Group (IAG) to the Board of Aer Lingus regarding a proposal to make an offer for the company on Monday. On Tuesday the Board of Aer Lingus confirmed that it has indicated to IAG that the financial terms of that proposal are at a level at which it would be willing to recommend. This, however, is subject to being satisfied the interests of the relevant parties being addressed. As that Aer Lingus is deemed to be in what is known as an ‘offer period’,  I am legally constrained in what he can say on the matter until a formal offer is made.

It is worth noting that the process involving any potential sale is in the very early stages and that as yet no formal offer has yet been made. In my public utterances on the matter during the week I have taken every opportunity to stress the strategic importance of competition and connectivity in the Irish market and that these, along with the brand of Aer Lingus and how employment at the airline might be affects remain vital considerations for the Government in coming to a decision on the matter. In

As an island nation, access in and out of Ireland is key to our future economic development. Work is on-going by an Inter-Departmental Group, which was first established in 2012, to look at the valuation of State assets, dealing with Aer Lingus, which was reactivated in recent weeks as proposals came in from IAG to the airline. The Group will be reporting to me in the near future.

This week I met with the Fine Gael and Labour parliamentary parties on the matter and I will continue to engage with them and to listen to any concerns they may have in respect of the future of Aer Lingus.

Spent Friday morning visiting the Grangegorman to meet with Grangegorman Development Authority and DIT School of Sports officials to discuss advancing the sports facilities there and at Broombridge where the development of an all-weather pitch is set to take place, befitting not just students at DIT but also local communities.

I attended two public forums this week; one in Cabra on policing issues and one in Phibsborough meeting on the campaign for the retention and review of the Local Area Plan for Phibsborough & Mountjoy. It is important to stress the need for the City Council to undertake the Public Consultation phase in as timely a manner as possible. I, and my colleague on Dublin City Council, Cllr Ray McAdam will continue to give this matter our full attention as we work to resolve the matter.

I also had a great visit to O’Connell’s School this afternoon (Friday) and finished the week by canvassing across Cabra.