Plan to sell off Aer Lingus smells suspiciously like the Telecom fiasco

BEFORE we sell off Aer Lingus to the highest bidder (or even the first bidder) does anyone mind if I ask a few questions? And let me declare a few interests first.

I'm a taxpayer. Just a common-or-garden taxpayer, like the vast majority of us. I've been a taxpayer for more than 30 years and in that time some small share of my taxes has gone into building up and supporting Aer Lingus.

I'm also a citizen. Born in Ireland, so I have an automatic entitlement (my children can say that too, but thanks to the recent referendum, their children won't be able to).