Madam, - I would like to commend the Taoiseach for his defence of Aer Lingus workers against the former management team (Dáil Report, May 18th).
But, as an Aer Lingus worker, I would also like to ask Mr Ahern and another 11 Fianna Fáil TDs from the northside of Dublin why they failed to represent themselves on April 27th when invited to a meeting with Aer Lingus workers to discuss the Government's reasons for part-privatising this most vital part of an island nation's transport infrastructure, after 70 years, despite not having a mandate to do so from the Irish people. - Yours, etc,
GER O'ROURKE, Swords, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Using the Letters page of your paper as a gauge, it would seem that the planned sale of Aer Lingus is of little public interest.
Whether this indicates silent approval of the decision, boredom, or the sheer frustration of a bewildered public is hard to tell.
As a shareholder in Aer Lingus I am surprised that others put so much trust in the wisdom and business acumen of the present Government and its advisers. These are the groups which did such magnificent work in selling off ICC, ACC, and Telecom with great benefit to the purchasers, consultants, and the overpaid staff (especially at directorial and managerial level) who had been amply paid and protected by the rest of us over the years.
The rationale behind these sales is similar to that of lending institutions advising farmers to sell their productive assets while they are making a profit. What happens when the assets go to an opponent and the vendor is left with a lot of hot air and a smaller income?
Surely there must be some other solution than the now discredited Thatcherism whereby the assets of the many are sold for the benefit of a few? - Yours, etc,
P. DE COURCY MAC DONNELL, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.