Madam, - How can we believe Michael O'Leary's claim that he would recognise unions at Aer Lingus when he has steadfastly refused to do so in his own company for years?
Can we believe Mr O'Leary's recently announced assertion that Heathrow services would be retained after a hostile takeover?
Last year he was considering the sale of "some or all" of them. How much does he really care about developing services from Shannon?
Ryanair has gradually reduced the number of aircraft based in Shannon in the last two years.
To what extent would the Irish market resemble a monopoly after a takeover?
Are the days of high fares and bare schedules set to return? - Yours, etc
GERALD KELLIHER,
Parknamore,
Ballincollig,
Cork.
Madam, - If economics was like medicine, those economists who have positively entertained the idea of a Ryanair takeover of Aer Lingus would be struck off.
The idea that Michael O'Leary could be trusted with almost 80 per cent of the market and not be tempted to raise fares, with nothing to stop him, is simply not credible.
The reason we have low fares today is because of competition - competition which Ryanair initiated over the Irish Sea, and if that takeover goes ahead, we will all end up paying much higher fares.
Suggestions that the Government is softening towards a Ryanair takeover quite simply beggar belief.
However, we can only hope that the European Union will stop such a crime against Irish consumers, and the current Government should remember that if they allow such a shameful thing to happen, the consequences will be felt by us before the next election and they will pay at the ballot box.
But the question must be asked as to why some economists would countenance the creation of a virtual monopoly.
More than most people they know the consequences of giving any business an overly dominant position in a market.
Approximately 80 per cent of the market would give Michael O'Leary de facto control as a price maker, and condemn the rest of us to paying a Ryanair monopoly tax in terms of inflated prices which market dominance makes possible.
What has happened to David McWilliams? Has he fallen in love with Michael O'Leary? - Yours, etc,
RONAN TYNAN,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.