Sinn Fein Protest Against Aer Lingus Privatisation

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Monday April 10, 2006 15:14

by Frank

Sinn Fein staged a protest on Saturday 8 April at the Airport Roundabout against the Privatisation of Aer Lingus. The protest was attended by Gerry Adams MP, Bairbre De Brun MEP as well as Cllr Dessie Ellis and Cllr Felix Gallagher.

Gerry Adams, Cllr Felix Gallagher & Cllr Dessie Ellis

Sinn Féin activists took part in a picket at the Dublin Airport roundabout at 3pm on Saturday afternoon to show their opposition to the proposed sale of Aer Lingus, the state's national airline. They were joined by Cllrs Felix Gallagher (Fingal County Council) and Dessie Ellis (Dublin City Council). Both Councils, along with South Dublin County Council passed Sinn Féin motions of opposition to the proposed sale.

Speaking ahead of the protest Cllr Ellis, who is the Sinn Féin candidate in Dublin North-West in the coming General Election, said: "The proposed sale has accurately been described as an act of economic vandalism. We are going to sell a profitable, efficient democratically owned company because the Government refuses to invest in it but the sale itself will only raise at best a quarter of the investment Aer Lingus management claims is needed."

Cllr Gallagher said: "There is no economic reason for this sale. The Government can invest in this airline, contrary to some of the spin in the media and the analysis of Labour on Fingal Council who opposed our motion not to sell off the airline. One of the greatest assets belonging to the people of Ireland is going to be sold to private investors whose sole goal will be to ring every last cent out of the airline regardless of the strategic needs of our island economy."

Sinn Fein Protest at Airport Roundabout

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Comments (6 of 6)

to "obvious"

by pat c

Wed Apr 12, 2006 15:15

"SF's economic principles get more worrying by the day."

only when they speak about moderate taxes on business. its good to see this action but i hope it followed up by a pledge that SF will only go into coalition if their partners are prepared to renationalise Aer Lingus if it is sold off.

to all

by obvious

Wed Apr 12, 2006 14:08

It should be privatised, as should the southern hotels. The Goverment has no reason to be involved in the air line business.

30 years ago when we needed to keep trade routes open yes, but in one of the most competitive industries in the world? Absolutely not. Aer Lingus is no longer an essential state asset, it must stand on its own two feet.

SF's economic principles get more worrying by the day.

by Tom Joad

Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:37

No John it's not.

Ryanair

by John - dunaree2000

Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:22

Why not go the whole hog and nationalise Ryanair? Its disgraceful that Ryanair can fly 10 times as many passengers as Aer Lingus while employing only a quarter of the workforce that Aer Lingus has. Talk about undermanning. If we nationalised Ryanair and brought it up to Aer Lingus's manning levels, there would be another 100,000 people employed in Ireland. Admittedly, fares would have to rise so much that nobody would fly on it. But, so what? Taxes could be doubled to subsidise it. Isn't that what socialism is all about?

Nice Picture for the Manifesto to give false impression

by socialist

Tue Apr 11, 2006 00:21

Nice to see that SF are working on their manifesto for North County Dublin Dail seats. They will throw that pic on them and make people think they actually were active in opposing the privatisation. What exactly is SF's ideas for what should be done to oppose the privatisation? Probably just vote for them in a year. No mention of SF's 'practical' politics. Or Gerry's visit to Chambers of Commerce or corporate Cairde Sinn Fein in the USA. Or their pro-privatisation policies in NI. Or that they want to get into government with FF as soon as possible.

About time

by John

Mon Apr 10, 2006 15:20

Fair play to Sinn Fein its about time somebody did something about this government's plans in relation to Aer Lingus.

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Sinn Fein Protest Against Aer Lingus Privatisation

Comments (6 of 6)