Madam, - Mary Lou McDonald's description of Aer Rianta as "one of Ireland's most successful State companies" (Letters, October 23rd) is laughable.
1. Profits collapsed from almost €40 million in 1994 to just €20 million in 2003;
2. Charges to airlines and consumers have doubled;
3. Free Mercs, King Sitric perks and Cartier watches are not a proper use of taxpayers' money;
4. Car-park charges to ordinary consumers have been jacked up by 100 per cent;
5. Irish consumers and visitors suffer long queues and delays in the Third World facilities at Dublin Airport;
6. Millions of tons of raw sewage dumped into the Shannon estuary;
7. Closure of our vital national airport on three occasions in the last 12 months with disruptions to over 100,000 ordinary passengers.
The Commission for Aviation Regulation has confirmed that Aer Rianta (which Mary Lou praises as one of our "most successful State companies") is "50 per cent more inefficient than the best of its peers."
Now we know that Sinn Féin and economic policy may be strangers, so here's a quick lesson: competition works, Mary Lou. . .monopolies don't! - Yours, etc.,
PAUL FITZSIMMONS, Head of Communications, Ryanair, Dublin Airport, Co Dublin.