In September 2011, in response to the offer by Ryanair to buy out Aer Lingus, the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, outlined the Government's position when he stated: "The Government remains committed to the sale of the stake in Aer Lingus at the right time under the right conditions." The Minister, as the Tánaiste is aware, also stated at that time that the Government's position was that the 25% shareholding by the State in Aer Lingus was not of strategic value. This statement was made against a backdrop of deep concerns expressed by tourism and business interests about the potential loss of connectivity between Shannon and Cork and Heathrow and the potential for reduction in the frequency of services between Dublin and Heathrow. This morning, on "Today with Sean O'Rourke", the chief executive of IAG, Willie Walsh, said that the Government's stated position in selling the shareholding was the reason IAG had entered the marketplace at this time. He and his organisation took some succour from the stated position, and that is the reason we are in this position at the moment. In response to the IAG indicative offer, on 27 January the Government established an interdepartmental advisory group to flesh out the bones of that possible deal. On 1 February, on RTE's "This Week" programme, the Taoiseach stated that he wanted a "cast iron guarantee" on connectivity before the Government would consider any formal offer for Aer Lingus.

When does the Tánaiste expect the advisory group to report to the Government? Is the Government, particularly the Labour Party, still committed to the sale of Aer Lingus, as it was in 2011? In light of Willie Walsh's comments this morning, when he stated that he was prepared to give not just cast iron guarantees on connectivity but cast iron guarantees cased in concrete, are the Tánaiste and the Labour Party happy to proceed with the sale of the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus to IAG?

Who sold the rest of Aer Lingus?

Deputy Lyons should remember he is in power now.

It was the previous Government, but they retained this share, did they not?

The Labour Party are waking up now.

Deputy Healy-Rae is irrelevant.

I have previously put it on the record and I will repeat it again. The connections to and from this island are vital. They are vital for us and for Irish people around the world travelling to and from the island. They are vital for foreign direct investment, which has been significant in Ireland. Furthermore, following the effective devaluation of the euro, we expect a further improvement in income and business from tourism, particularly given the successful development of the Wild Atlantic Way, an initiative of this Government. Connectivity to and from Ireland is of the utmost importance in any examination of the bid put forward by IAG. Employment in Aer Lingus is also an issue. I have stated this previously.

The sale of the majority stake in Aer Lingus of just under 75% was undertaken by the Deputy's party when it was in Government in the mid-2000s for a sum in the region of €289 million.

They sold the State silver.

That Government sold off three quarters of Aer Lingus. The Deputy was a Senator at the time and an enthusiastic backer of that particular proposition. This is how the country ended up having a minority, but significant, stake in Aer Lingus, at 25.1%. Under the takeover rules, the Government must examine any offers. Mr. Walsh is coming before an Oireachtas committee this afternoon. I am sure people such as the Deputy will have some very detailed questions. Under the takeover rules, I cannot comment in detail. However, I can say that on previous occasions when the issue of the potential sale of this stake arose, along with employment in Aer Lingus and services to and from Dublin, Shannon and Cork, connections in and out of the country for Irish people, tourism and investment have been critical factors in any evaluation.

We will try it again. I have a couple of straightforward questions.

We cannot sell it twice.

Deputy Stagg and others will be aware that-----

Fianna Fáil sold 75%.

Fianna Fáil sold 75%.

-----the partial sale of Aer Lingus ensured its viability and that it did not collapse. It has increased passenger numbers and is in a healthy state and the envy of other airlines. I therefore stand over that decision. It was a positive one for Aer Lingus and for Ireland. I stand over this decision because it was the right one. I am asking the Tánaiste very clearly - if the Deputies give her a chance perhaps she will answer, perhaps she will not-----

The Labour Party were in a coma for four years.

-----a relatively simple question. I will condense it for her. Is the Tánaiste still committed to the sale of Aer Lingus if the conditions are right? The Tánaiste shakes her head as if she never was. In September 2011, was the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport expressing the opinion of just Fine Gael? He said it was a Government decision at that time-----

Personal promise.

-----that the stake in Aer Lingus would be sold at the appropriate time. Is the Tánaiste still committed to this? Are the Tánaiste and her colleagues in the Labour Party prepared, if the appropriate guarantees on connectivity and jobs are obtained from Willie Walsh, to proceed with the sale? It is a simple question. Will she answer it, please?

We will sell Deputy Dooley to Willie.

I presume the Deputy will be in a position to ask some of those questions himself of Mr. Walsh

I am asking the Tánaiste.

Does Willie Walsh speak for the Labour Party?

We have a new Tánaiste.

He is a northsider.

Let us have some respect for the speaker.

I will repeat what I said earlier. We have to be aware of the takeover panel rules, but there are critical factors in the evaluation of any offer. Fianna Fáil decided, in its wisdom, to sell 75% for €289 million. It obviously struck a very hard bargain. What happened to the €289 million? It increased the level of resources Fianna Fáil had available to it at the time of the 2007 election, as I remember it.

What?

The Labour Party would never do that.

The 25.1% stake which remains is going to be subject to examination in respect of connections to and from this island. As I have just stated, and I will say it again - perhaps the Deputy does not agree - the connections are important for Irish people coming to and from the island, for investors and for people doing business in and out of Ireland-----

Were they not important in 2011?

-----and the connections are extremely important for tourism, particularly in the west of Ireland in the context of the development by this Government of the Wild Atlantic Way. This remains the key issue, along with employment in Aer Lingus.

As the Deputy knows, there is significant employment in Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports and in the head office structures. They will be the key factors in the evaluation.

Another five people, including two minors and a pensioner, have been arrested in west Tallaght this morning. A further four people, again including a child, were arrested yesterday. Seventeen arrests have been made to date. It is reported that up to 33 people will be detained in the coming days. The scale of Garda resources deployed for these arrests stands in marked contrast to the lack of Garda response in many communities when families report serious crime. The number of gardaí used to arrest an elected Member of this House and members of South Dublin County Council stands in stark contrast to the lack of community gardaí on the ground in communities inflicted in some instances with drug related and gangland crime.

Hear, hear.

There is growing concern that these arrests are politically motivated and that somebody somewhere has a desire to criminalise the community in Jobstown and the entire anti-water charges movement. I would like to make it clear that I do not believe it is acceptable in a democracy to protest at politicians' homes. Equally, it is not acceptable to detain politicians, political staff or council workers as they go about their business. I do not believe it is appropriate to aggressively target the Office of the President. I believe protests should be peaceful and dignified. Indeed, that is what they have been for the most part. I share the concern of a growing number of people that what gardaí are doing is of a political nature. Does the Tánaiste share my concern that there is a campaign to criminalise the people of Jobstown and the hundreds of thousands of people who are campaigning against water charges? Does she share the view that the level of Garda resources being deployed is over the top and is in stark contrast to the lack of response to victims of crime in west Tallaght and elsewhere? Does she stand over the manner in which gardaí are conducting these arrests and treating the people of Jobstown?

First, in our democratic system it is a matter for An Garda Síochána to investigate crime. Second, we have an independent Judiciary.

It is full of Labour Party members.

Gardaí have to be free to investigate crime without political interference of any kind. That is why it is exclusively a matter for An Garda Síochána to decide, in accordance with the law, who is to be arrested and detained as part of any investigation. Equally, it is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether people are charged and matters are consequently put before the courts. People who have any complaints about the manner in which they have been dealt with by An Garda Síochána can make those complaints to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. It is important for Members of the House to remember that this country is governed by the rule of law. We should let the law take its course without interference or hindrance from anybody. It would clearly be wrong of me to say anything that would interfere in any way with any investigation.

I am not inviting the Tánaiste to interfere in any investigative process. I would not do so. I acknowledge the independence of the Garda and indeed the independence of the Judiciary, both of which are essential pillars of our functioning democratic system. That is why it is essential for the independence of those organisations and institutions to be reasserted in circumstances of public concern or public doubt. What has happened here in a drip-drip way is that people, including pensioners and children, as I have mentioned, have been arrested right across west Tallaght.

Well done.

We are talking about children of 14 and 16 years of age.

Shame.

I think the Tánaiste will agree that the right to peaceful protest and demonstration is a core part of the democratic system, just as is the independence of the organisations she has identified. If she is not concerned about the public perception of this turn of events, she should be because there is growing public concern that the State, through An Garda Síochána, is actively penalising and targeting people who have protested against Government policy.

Where is the proof of that?

That is a most dangerous perception to grow.

The Deputy's party is intimidating the gardaí in the investigation.

It has no faith in the Garda.

Order, please. Deputy McDonald should ask a question

Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

The Deputy should not make such an accusation against the Garda.

While that might draw the buzz of the well-heeled benches of the Dáil-----

The Deputy does not know what she is talking about.

-----I assure Deputies that if they go to Jobstown and other communities throughout the State - I refer particularly to working-class communities - they will find that this perception is growing.

Fuelled by Sinn Féin.

I believe that the Tánaiste, like all politicians and elected representatives, has a duty to put that concern to rest.

The Deputy is undermining the Garda.

Does she share my concerns? Does she recognise that the level of Garda resources deployed has been over the top, frankly?

It is unprecedented.

This has happened at a time when Garda resources are stretched.

This Government closed rural Garda stations.

Is the Tánaiste concerned that a Member of this House was arrested?

Is the Deputy concerned that he was arrested?

Is she concerned about the manner of that arrest and the melodrama around it? Above all, does the Tánaiste not share the concern that a growing number of people regard this as politically motivated policing?

That is a disgrace.

I uphold the Constitution. Like any member of the Government, I am required to do so. I respect the independence of the Judiciary, the independence of the Garda and the availability of an independent complaints system. It is important for anyone who speaks on these matters in this House not to reflect in any negative way on the independence of these institutional and constitutional arrangements, which are the cornerstone of our democracy. I visit communities throughout the State frequently. I have found that protestors appear to favour protesting against ceremonies, events and institutions to do with education. The people who were receiving their awards and degrees in Jobstown were celebrating an important day in their lives and those of their communities.

Many of them boycotted it because the Tánaiste was coming.

I would like to refer briefly to the events at Fingal County Council the other evening. Like other Members of this House, I served as a member of that county council for a period. I regret what happened to the Fianna Fáil Mayor of Fingal County Council, Councillor Mags Murray, whom I have known over a long time. When she wanted to leave the council meeting to visit her daughter who was ill in hospital, she was remonstrated with in a very cruel and, in my view, utterly misguided way.

Shame.

As part of a protest, certain people prevented her from getting to her car in order that she could visit her daughter in hospital.

It was disgraceful.

All I will say is that they are not representative of people who have political issues and opposition to the whole issue of water charges.

It was shocking

They are not representative of how politics has generally been conducted in this State. The people in Fingal the other evening held a mother back from going to see her sick daughter in hospital for an additional hour or two.

Was Deputy Paul Murphy there?

I suspect their actions had nothing to do with water-----

Did he attend it?

-----or with the vast majority of people who have concerns and who have protested-----

I asked the Tánaiste about Jobstown.

-----absolutely peacefully and in an orderly way.

She has not said a single word about the people who were arrested.

The Deputy would know about being arrested.

I know all about your harassment.

Deputies, the Tánaiste to conclude.

All I can say is that, when communities-----

-----are going about the lawful and peaceful-----

Like Greece, the Government will bring in the Army next.

-----development of the community and where people are graduating with honours from colleges, which is a mark of great honour and credit to the communities, or where schools are working with children-----

Stop it.

-----the protestors who turn up at those events are, as Deputy McDonald suggested, not typical of the people who engage in peaceful protest on this issue. I suggest that they think again. I do not understand why they prevented a mother going to see her sick daughter after the finish of a council meeting.

What about the arrests in Jobstown?

I call Deputy Coppinger for the Technical Group.

The question was not even answered.

Deputy Coppinger has the floor.

For four days in a row, there have been unprecedented Garda operations in west Tallaght. Dawn raids have taken place on 17 homes without any of the appointments made with the Anglo Irish Bank three who brought this country to financial ruin.

Determined.

Deputy Finian McGrath is an expert.

Ordinary men, women and, in legal terms, children have been arrested in front of their families and neighbours, including three elected representatives of the Anti-Austerity Alliance. How does it sit with the Tánaiste that complaints she made against people who protested her visit to Jobstown in November have resulted in these outrageous raids by entire squads of gardaí, trawling for evidence on incidents that were blown out of all proportion by her and some of her friends in sections of the media?

That is outrageous.

Is the Tánaiste comfortable that 14, 15, 16 and 17 year olds have been arrested? As we speak, a 15 year old is missing a day of school.

It is shameless.

The Tánaiste claims she is concerned about education, but she has said nothing about the school that child is missing-----

He was not at school while he was protesting.

-----because he or she might have taken part in a protest against the Tánaiste.

Deputy Durkan never protests.

Was he missing from school when he was protesting?

The talk in Jobstown is that a message will be sent out soon for the first born in every family to be rounded up to please the Tánaiste. Is her wounded political vanity so precious that she needs this vindictive attempt to criminalise an entire working class community in this way? Hundreds of decent people in Jobstown and Tallaght who took part in a protest are in genuine fear that they will be arrested. Who will mind their children and so on?

The Tánaiste stated that she was independent and she mentioned An Cosán. Let us be honest. She was not wanted by the people getting their degrees at An Cosán. That was made perfectly clear.

That is outrageous.

Shame on you.

Unbelievable.

Order, please. A question, Deputy.

Why does the Tánaiste feel that she is so special? There are vulnerable women with barring orders who cannot get them enforced by gardaí, yet an entire unit in Tallaght has been doing nothing else for the past three months except investigating hours of video footage on the Tánaiste's behalf.

Hear, hear.

For decades, Ministers and taoisigh have gone around this country and encountered hundreds of protests, had their cars impeded-----

Mr. Jack Lynch.

-----and had verbal abuse shouted at them. I will cite two examples.

I am sorry, but the Deputy is over time.

Well over time and out of line.

In 2002, the then Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, visited Waterford. He claimed that his car was kicked and choice language was thrown at him. He complained in the Chamber. In 1989, Mr. Charles Haughey-----

It is a history lesson.

-----had his car blocked by a sit-down protest of students-----

The Deputy was not around then.

-----at UCD. For all their sins, neither went and called out the dogs and called on a repressive police response for the behaviour they faced.

Who is the dog?

Who are the dogs?

It would seem that it takes a special-----

Quiet, please.

Have a bit of respect.

Disgraceful.

Deputy Coppinger should withdraw that remark.

It would seem that it takes-----

Will Deputy Coppinger please ask-----

She called gardaí "dogs".

Disgraceful.

It is an outrageous thing to call them.

Be quiet.

Order, please. Could I ask Deputy Coppinger, please-----

It would seem that it takes a very special deputy Prime Minister for the Labour Party-----

Withdraw that remark.

-----to get this-----

Shut up. Keep quiet.

Is it not enough for Labour Members to be traitors to the working class? Do not try to interrupt the speaker.

Be quiet.

I want to allow Deputy Coppinger to conclude.

I will finish as soon as I get a chance.

The Deputy has two minutes for a question, the Tánaiste has three minutes for a reply, then the Deputy has one minute for a supplementary question and the Tánaiste has one minute for a further reply.

This is my question.

Will the Deputy please ask the question? We are over time.

What about Fr. Peter McVerry?

Why has it taken a very special deputy Prime Minister for the Labour Party to call for such a repressive police response? Larkin and Connolly will be turning in their graves.

It is your carry on that has them turning in their graves. You should be ashamed.

There are two reasons for this happening. First, working class people have deigned to protest against austerity Ministers who visit their communities.

Out of order.

The Tánaiste would like them to get back in their boxes.

I thank the Deputy.

The second reason is that she wants to take on-----

Deputy, please.

-----the largest protest movement taking place in this country, namely, the anti-water charges movement-----

This is a speech.

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

-----at a particular time when bills are being prepared for delivery to 2 million homes. Will the Tánaiste call on the Garda-----

No, we have had the Deputy's question.

-----to stop making these arrests?

Will you sit down?

I will have order, please.

Show some respect.

You show some respect. You should-----

Deputy Coppinger called gardaí "dogs".

I am calling the Tánaiste.

First of all-----

Deputy Higgins-----

Does Deputy Spring know anything about the English language or figures of speech? Is it not enough for Labour to be betraying the working class?

Will the Deputy settle down, please? I have called the Tánaiste.

Will somebody call the guards quick?

I want to ask the Deputy-----

The Tánaiste is supposed to answer questions.

-----in the interests of the many gardaí who serve this country and its people with distinction, heroism and bravery-----

That is true.

-----whether when she made a reference to dogs she was actually including in that our Garda Síochána.

Male and female.

I think it is important, notwithstanding that the Deputy is given to fairly colourful rhetoric when she speaks here, that she actually address this issue. Gardaí do not deserve to be spoken of in those terms.

Hear, hear.

The Deputy should be ashamed of herself.

Answer the question.

At many of the protests, I have heard language used to both female and male members of An Garda Síochána that I certainly felt was not appropriate.

For once the Tánaiste is right.

I have to say that, in all of my years in politics with the Deputy sitting on Deputy Coppinger's right, I have never heard him resorting to that kind of language. In all fairness to him-----

Answer the question.

What language?

She called gardaí "dogs".

-----we have had many political disputes, but I have never heard Deputy Higgins resort to that kind of language. I understand that there is a lot of hot temper flying around the Chamber at the moment.

Just answer the question.

In fairness to Deputy Higgins, I just wanted to acknowledge that. We have had many very detailed discussions and disputes on political matters.

Answer the question on why 15 and 16 year olds have been arrested.

Order, please.

Let me reiterate that it is a cornerstone of our Constitution and democracy, which I will defend, that we have an independent Garda, an independent Judiciary and an independent complaints procedure. That may not be good enough for Deputy Coppinger, but the Constitution of this Republic and an independent Garda operation are paramount for me and anybody who respects the former.

Hear, hear.

Learning that would go well over there.

Let me say this as well. It would be absolutely inappropriate for me, any other serving Minister or any politician to comment in any detail on a Garda matter that is under way.

The Tánaiste made the complaint.

Deputy Coppinger has one minute.

She is not above the law.

Could we please have order?

Are the Deputies proud of themselves?

The Tánaiste made a pathetic attempt relating to my using a figure of speech to avoid answering any of the questions.

Yes.

Despite her claims about the Garda being independent, is the Tánaiste happy with approximately 100 gardaí calling to people's homes, accounting for 300 man hours this week alone, 280 hours of video footage and the incident unit in Tallaght and she has no control over it? Is she happy that teenagers are missing school? Is she happy that mothers are afraid that they will be rounded up any morning? Is this going to continue in batches of four and five for the next ten days until she reaches the magical figure of 40 or 50 that has been suggested in the media?

I have given the Tánaiste major historical examples of taoisigh, of a higher standing even than herself, who had their cars impeded and blocked. This is nothing new. Is it different when it is students or working class people? That seems to be what the Tánaiste is saying.

Yes. Poor people do not matter.

For the Tánaiste's information, there is one Member of this House who was very badly manhandled on that protest, Deputy Paul Murphy. Would the Tánaiste express her sympathy with him? That is shown on some of the video footage as well.

On Tuesday, the Tánaiste grievously betrayed women suffering the trauma of fatal foetal abnormality by her stance.

I am sorry but the Deputy is on a different issue.

What about the Constitution?

Today, she brazenly comes in here and continues to stand over the hounding of an entire working class community. These actions will definitely backfire. People will boycott the water charges, which is essentially what this is about. The Tánaiste is trying to demonise protestors at a key time in the battle against water charges, but this will rebound. I have no doubt that the Tánaiste will be gone in the next election, and probably the entire Labour Party with her, and so too will the water charges.

I call on the Tánaiste to conclude.

You guys would never break the law.

I have devoted my time to helping people in communities across the country to get back to work. I will defend that. When we came into office - Deputy Coppinger was not here at that time but she may know - unemployment rates had soared to 15% and 330,000 people had lost their jobs.

What has that got to do with water charges?

The country was in a difficult position because of the collapse of the banks. This Government and this House has sought to restore to people-----

On a point of order, the Tánaiste is not answering the question she was asked.

That is not a point of order.

-----their opportunity to get work or start a business. I am delighted to say that is being increasingly successful.

The Tánaiste should speak about the young people in custody today.

In relation to the actions of the Garda Síochána concerning any investigation, Deputy Coppinger said she feared that Deputy Paul Murphy had been, to quote her, "manhandled" by gardaí. If Deputy Paul Murphy has complaints to make, he is perfectly entitled to make a complaint in that respect to An Garda Síochána and to the Garda Ombudsman Commission. That is his option, as it is with any other citizen, if he feels that, as Deputy Coppinger suggests, he was manhandled by gardaí.

What about the children in custody?

All I will say about the issue is that, because the matter is under investigation-----

It is a 16 year old.

Please.

-----I am not at liberty to make any comments in relation to the investigation. By the way, Deputy Coppinger suggested that I have made complaints to An Garda Síochána. I do not know if Deputy Paul Murphy has made complaints to An Garda Síochána, but I certainly have not.

Thank you, Tánaiste. That concludes Leaders' Questions. We now go on to the next business.

On a point of order-----

I call the Government Chief Whip.

Am I right in saying that Deputy Ruth Coppinger called members of An Garda Síochána "dogs"? If she did, I, as a member of the Fine Gael Party and a Member of this House, would like her to withdraw that remark. It is beneath her to call members of An Garda Síochána "dogs".

To clarify, did Deputy Coppinger-----

I never referred to gardaí as "dogs". I was using a figure of speech.

Keep quiet, please.

If the dawn chorus over there could stay quiet for a minute, I was using a figure of speech - not referring to gardaí.

You are withdrawing that.

Withdraw it. Apologise.

I am sorry Minister, but I have the floor now.

The Deputy should not be allowed to leave this House without withdrawing that scurrilous remark.

The Minister should resume his seat. Can we have order, please?

Fight fire with fire.

In case there is any misunderstanding, Deputy Coppinger, you did not call gardaí "dogs".

She did.

Please.

I am sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, but the expression I used was "Call off the dogs of war on people in Jobstown". It was nothing to do with gardaí.

Who are the dogs?