Madam, - Gerry Byrne's analysis of Aer Lingus (Opinion & Analysis, May 20th) completely ignores the airline's strategic role in our economic and social well-being.
As a State airline, Aer Lingus's primary function is to provide air transport to and from destinations that are vital to our economic and social interests. The ownership of foreign airlines like British Airways and British Midland are not relevant to Aer Lingus; nor is the performance of Ryanair.
Mr Byrne also claims it is a "quaint anachronism" to prolong State ownership of Aer Lingus when, in fact, predatory activity in the airline sector has made it more important than ever for the Irish people to have input into how air travel is provided to and from their island nation.
Predictably, he also attempts to confuse the issue of investment in Aer Lingus by referring to EU Competition Law. Not only does Mr Byrne omit any reference to an instrument of EU law or instance of EU case law to substantiate his claim, but also suggests that upgrading the fleet might be the only type of investment the EU will permit. What exactly does Mr Byrne think Aer Lingus would spend State money on? Staff uniforms?
The privatisation of Aer Lingus will be like the privatisation of Eircom. Government Ministers will tour the country reassuring us that control of the company will remain in our hands and that "fats cats" won't be entertained. Then, when it is sold, we'll be told that market conditions demand a radical overhaul of the company's operations, requiring that direct flights to Europe and the US be suspended and routed through Heathrow, or else the company will go bust.
Soon after that, we'll be told that a "merger" with British Airways is in the company's strategic interests, and that the Aer Lingus brand is no longer "marketable". Before we know it, the only planes leaving Dublin airport will be owned by British Airways and Ryanair and the only places they'll be flying to are Heathrow and Stansted.
At that point, the company that Sean Lemass described as his "finest achievement" will be no more than a figment of collective nostalgia. - Yours, etc,
GARRETH McDAID, Drumleague Hill, Leitrim Village, Co Leitrim.