O'Rourke attacked over Aer Lingus privatisation

Opposition politicians addressing a meeting of Aer Lingus unions in Dublin have blamed the Government and Public Enterprise Minister Mary O’Rourke of creating the crisis at the national airline.

Representatives of the Labour Party, the Green Party and Sinn Fein told the meeting that the Government’s plans to privatise Aer Lingus is no solution to the current problems.

Labour TD Sean Ryan said Mrs O’Rourke’s handling of Aer Lingus is "inept" and he said her privatisation plans have undermined staff morale.

Speakers at the meeting all agreed that the Government should lobby the European Union to end the ban on state funding for airlines.