There was a discussion in the last session on the Cabinet Handbook, which states that collective responsibility requires that Ministers should inform their colleagues in Government of proposals their Ministers of State intend to announce. When the Minister for Transport clearly enunciated his view that Aer Lingus should be privatised within the short to medium term, was he articulating Government policy? Is that the policy this Government will carry out in this term?

Aer Lingus has made significant progress in stabilising itself and restoring the airline to profitability. It is now opportune to assess the current situation and the options that exist. That is all the Minister is doing.