De Rossa says govt claims are not true

Dublin MEP Pronsias de Rossa has said the government’s claim that EU competition law prohibits state aid for struggling airlines is not true.

Mr de Rossa said the EU guidelines of 1994 specifically say that a member state can provide aid when hardship is caused by external matters over which the company has no control.

Mr de Rossa said the events of September 11th were clearly beyond Aer Lingus’ control and therefore, the Irish Government is perfectly within its rights to provide aid.

The European Parliament is currently debating the provision of aid to airlines hit hard by the US attacks.