SIPTU - The Union for All Workers - Printer Friendly Style

Independent poll shows majority against privatising Aer Lingus

The results of an RTE opinion poll showed 52.79% of voters were against the privatisation of Aer Lingus – 43.03% were in favour and 4.18% remained undecided.

According to SIPTU’s National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny, “the result is more proof – if it were needed – that the Government should not make any formal decision on the sale of Aer Lingus until such time as the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport has met and discussed the matter in the public interest.

“A significant number of Local Authorities have passed motions on a cross-party basis against the privatisation of Aer Lingus.  Among these are all the Local Authorities in the Greater Dublin Area, Cork City Council, Limerick City Council, Sligo, Kilkenny, Kildare and Thurles.

“This too indicates a large measure of concern – across the political spectrum - as to the wisdom of the Government’s decision in principle to sell off part of Aer Lingus.

“The Government should therefore await the outcome of the Joint Oireachtas Committee’s hearing on April 6, before proceeding further on this issue,” he said.