Rabbitte attacks Aer Lingus sellout decision

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte last night criticised the Government decision to sell off a majority stake in Aer Lingus as his party’s annual conference got under way in Tralee, Co Kerry.

In doing so, however, he exposed one of the key differences between Labour and Fine Gael, the party with which he wants to form a pre-election pact.

Although it is concerned with other aspects of the Government’s aviation package, Fine Gael has voiced no opposition to the sale of the Aer Lingus stake. Labour is firmly opposed to it, however.

“The sellout of Aer Lingus is a shameful decision,” Mr Rabbitte told delegates in his opening address at the Brandon Hotel.

“How soon we forget the lessons of Eircom, where the shares were accumulated, the debt was parked, and the assets sold off.

“I have no doubt that in the fullness of time, it will be added to the ever-growing book of evidence about the monumental incompetence and arrogance of this Government.”

To applause from delegates, he stressed that ceding majority control of the airline was not in the national interest.

Announcing Labour was now “in general election mode”, Mr Rabbitte also criticised other aspects of the Government’s record, including its failure to provide social and affordable housing to those most in need. The Government is “discredited, arrogant and out of touch”, he said.

This morning, Mr Rabbitte will seek party approval of a motion which would grant him the power to form a pre-election pact with Fine Gael.

Opposition to this strategy is led by Labour vice-chairman Henry Haughton, who believes, as do several other senior members, that the party should fight the general election independently.

Mr Haughton has suggested the party should look to form a coalition government with Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin instead of Fine Gael.

However, Mr Rabbitte has already stated his opposition to entering into power with either Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin. And he re-emphasised his standpoint last night not only by criticising the Government, but by laying the blame for the impasse in the peace process at Sinn Féin’s door.

“There should be no room for any misunderstanding about the primary cause for this,” he said. “Yes, the continuing obduracy and bigoted utterings of some members of the DUP, including their leader, have damaged the prospects for an agreement that can be sustained over time.

“But the cynical manoeuvring of Sinn Féin has driven deep wedges into the peace process. They have used the process as a tool to increase their own influence.

“The cynicism of their approach is matched only by the continuing duplicity of the IRA itself, which promises to consider disarmament, but which secretly continues to recruit.”