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.