Fianna Fáil TD attacks ‘disastrous’ privatisations

A MID-WEST Fianna Fáil TD last night launched a blistering attack on the “disastrous outcomes” of his own party’s decision to support the privatisation of State agencies such as Eircom and Aer Lingus.

Niall Collins, newly elected to the Dáil for Limerick West, said he will be using his position within the party to articulate the concerns raised with him about the Aer Lingus withdrawal from Shannon.

He said that the mid-west was now largely without two key infrastructural essentials due to the privatisation of Aer Lingus and Eircom.

Mr Collins pointed out that an essential air link to a key hub, Heathrow, would now terminate at the end of the year and further suggested that the broadband roll-out in the mid-west had been a dismal failure.

“I am first and foremost a public representative for the area and I won’t be found wanting. The Government retained more than 25% shareholding to influence key strategic decisions of Aer Lingus. It is not just good enough where the board of the company wasn’t party to the decision, as it was taken by the executive.

“That simply is not good enough. I have written to the minister [Noel Dempsey] to use whatever key strategic alliances he can use.”

Mr Collins said that in terms of national policy there was a more fundamental issue which centred on privatisation in a number of key strategic areas.

“We have had a key privatisation of Eircom and now with Aer Lingus. Initially these raised money for the Exchequer, to be invested in other key infrastructures. If you look at the two I mention, this region has not been served well because we have a totally inadequate roll-out of broadband.”

The mid-west TD went on to accuse Aer Lingus of acting unprofessionally in putting the story out over a bank holiday weekend, with staff learning of the decision through media leaks.

“Existing jobs in multinational and indigenous industries also rely on direct connections to the rest of the world.

“The general manager of Element Six [formerly de Beers which employs 600], one of the areas flagship employers, are now questioning their own future in the area. It is very serious.”