Sir, - It is becoming ever clearer that the Government is about to bail out another national "lame duck", at a likely cost of over £150 million to the Irish people. I refer, of course, to Aer Lingus.
For at least the past 20 years, the overstaffed, overstuffed, protected and mollycoddled national airline has clearly been incapable of operating in the real world. Evidence of waste runs throughout the organisation. The logo and colour scheme are just one example. Millions of pounds went into redesigning the shamrock a few years ago, at a time when the airline was being bailed out to stave off bankruptcy. The time has long passed when we, the people who pay for those excesses, should say stop.
I have no connection with Ryanair, but I cannot find fault with the logic of Michael O'Leary when he demands that the Government stop sitting on its hands and allow the private operators to develop the Irish aviation industry naturally -from their own funds.
Mr O'Leary seems to want to build a new terminal, on private land near Dublin Airport, using private money, and to take his chances on increasing business - at his own risk. The State is using public funds to stop him, and stands by while cossetted semi-State companies grind slowly and inevitably into oblivion.
Now there is talk of Bord Fβilte spending hundreds of millions on marketing campaigns selling Ireland to people in continental Europe who can't come here because airline seats are too dear.
Mr O'Leary offers to sell £49 seats to these people, promising to replace the lost American market, at his own expense and risk, but he is prevented from doing so. Why? Because the Government won't open the door to him! He can't operate those flights until the State grants permission and the Government won't arrange this because it is committing itself (again) to protecting Aer Lingus.
All Mr O'Leary and other investors need is for the Government to step out of the way. All Aer Lingus needs is for the Government to free it up too. Aer Lingus - admittedly as a leaner and hungrier airline - will survive when it is forced to compete on a level playing pitch for the business that Ryanair has demonstrated is there.
Then, we, the people, can insist that our scarce funds go where they should be going - into health, education, roads, our environment, caring for our people, rebuilding our nation and making Ireland a place paying guests will want to visit. - Yours, etc .,
Seβn Hennessy, Old Bawn, Tallaght, Dublin 24.