Ryanair proposals - Ireland Inc’s credibility is at stake

JUST as the shabbiness surrounding George Lee’s polarising resignation deepened the distaste surrounding our political system — or our media if you think Mr Lee was wrong — the row between Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary does not augur well for our capacity to rebuild our economy.

Like the Lee affair, it is assuming an importance beyond its significance.

Government and private enterprise are publicly at loggerheads and it seems the possibility of creating 300 badly needed jobs might slip away. The credibility of Ireland Inc is taking another battering and workers who might have hoped to resume work are left as bruised pawns in an unhappy game of brinkmanship.