Seanad report: The Aer Lingus board had begun the process of recruiting a new chief executive by establishing a sub-committee of the chairman and two other non-executive directors which was charged with recommending a replacement, the Minister for Transport, Mr Cullen, told the House.
"I understand that in addition to commencing the recruitment process for a new chief executive the board reiterated the need for the complete and early implementation of the business plan in order to address the competitive pressures and build on progress to date. In addition, it had approved a challenging budget for 2005, consistent with the implementation of the plan."
Mr Feargal Quinn (Ind) said that while in general he tended to be against the idea of the State running commercial businesses, he was even more against the idea of turning over essential parts of the national infrastructure to purely profit-driven enterprises, as they had done so disastrously in the case of Eircom.
The Taoiseach's willingness to contemplate the early release of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe showed his desperation to get a settlement of the Northern Ireland situation for his own ego was more important than the life of a garda, Mr Ulick Burke (FG) said.
Challenged by the Cathaoirleach, Mr Rory Kiely, Mr Burke said he was making a political rather than a personal charge. The Taoiseach should be asked if his priorities were the release of these "murderers" or a Northern Ireland settlement.
Dr Martin Mansergh (FF) said the Supreme Court decided whether people were eligible for release. But there was also a separate question of whether the executive decided to take this course. They were talking about acts of completion all round. However unpopular certain things might be, the Government had to do its duty in the national interest and in the interest of peace .
Mr Maurice Hayes (Ind) deplored murder and sympathised with Mrs Ann McCabe, who should not have heard the latest news by way of the public airwaves.
The leader of the House, Mrs Mary O'Rourke, said particular attention should be paid to what the Taoiseach had stated about the need to have a comprehensive settlement.