Ryanair bid not in the public good

It’s said ‘the noblest motive is the public good’.

Do we honestly believe this was so with Ryanair’s most recent bid of €694m for control of Aer Lingus? And, if the Government agrees to sell its share for a meagre €174m — 30 pieces of silver — it’s also reneging on Aer Lingus, the former 75-year-old carrier, and Ireland’s national airline. It is a traitor.

This was tactician O’Leary’s third volley of blanks within six years. His bid has no more chance of success now than it had in his initial attempts. How could it? If it were to succeed, one group would control the two main airlines and 80% of traffic out of Dublin. If the competition authorities here, in the EU or in the UK, were to have a shred of meaning they would have to clamp down on these bed-partners without hesitation. Otherwise, it would be a farce and the passengers would be the victims.

Michael may even be firing a shot in the dark just to test the mettle of wealthy businessman Denis O’Brien, a 3.8% shareholder, and Etihad (the Abu Dhabi flagship), a 3% shareholder in Aer Lingus, to get them to move and make a counter bid.

James Gleeson

Thurles

Co Tipperary