Madam, - One might agree or disagree with the privatisation of Aer Lingus, but if it is to be privatised the Government should be honest about the reasons for doing so.
The primary reason offered by the Government is not valid. It has indicated that it is not permitted by reason of EU state aid rules to invest in new aircraft. This is simply untrue as a matter of law.
The applicable EU rule is known as the "private investor principle". Where fresh capital is injected by the State in circumstances that would be acceptable to a private investor, operating under normal market conditions, there is no state aid involved. Accordingly, there is no legal impediment to the Government investing in what is now a competitive Aer Lingus.
The European Union is not responsible for the Taoiseach's discomfiture in North Dublin on this issue. - Yours, etc,
Cllr EUGENE REGAN (FG), Senior Counsel, Brighton Avenue, Monkstown, Co Dublin.