I am particularly fascinated by reports in today's media that if the Taoiseach is returned to office after the next election, he intends to promote women to his Cabinet, to constitute a 50:50 proportion of women in it. I was fascinated by this and somewhat bemused considering that, when he had the opportunity earlier this year, he did not promote even one woman to the junior ministerial ranks - not one woman. Is he now appealing to the female vote following the confirmation of the partisan nature of some of those who have been designating themselves as Independent Senators in this House following last night's votes? Perhaps that has been the inspiration for him to proceed now with confidence on the basis that whoever he nominates to this House and to the other House will continue to support the Government. However, that is democracy in action and I have no wish to in any way reflect on the decisions that anyone takes on how they vote in this House.

Of much more importance is the overnight news that a takeover attempt of Aer Lingus was unsuccessful and I ask for the Leader's response. The board has rebuffed this and I am pleased that it has. However, I am particularly concerned that the Government has been quoted as stating it is open to the sale of its 25%-plus stake in Aer Lingus. This country has an extraordinarily successful experience in aircraft maintenance and aviation leasing. Ireland is the leading country in the world for aviation leasing. We also have, extraordinarily, two very successful airlines. We have Ryanair, the pioneering airline which led the break-up of the cartels which operated when I could not afford, as an emigrant in London, to fly from London to Dublin because it cost nearly the equivalent of a month's salary. Ryanair and Mr. Michael O'Leary are to be complimented in this regard. They have continued to be successful. Aer Lingus, following a period of very difficult trading, is now a successful company.