Dáil Question on Ryanair bid for Aer Lingus

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of Government engagement and consultation with the European Union Regulators on the proposed Ryanair bid for Aer Lingus; the influence his Department will have on its decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Reply from Minister Leo Varadkar T.D.

Following detailed consideration of the most recent offer by Ryanair for Aer Lingus the Government  decided  that it was not prepared to support the offer because of the significant negative impact that the Government considers the offer would have on competition, connectivity and employment in the Irish air transport market.
 
The European Commission is conducting a detailed examination of the Offer under EU Merger Control Rules and it has consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including my Department, on the remedies packages put forward by Ryanair to address the competition concerns identified by the Commission in its initial review. Many of the details of these remedies have been reported in the media and as reported, they do not satisfy the Government’s concern about connectivity, competition or employment. The Government has made this point on a number of occasions, including in my public statement of the 12th of February 2013.
 
The deadline for the European Commission’s decision in this case is March 6th.  Notwithstanding recent media reports of the outcome of the Commission’s investigation, the Government awaits the Commission’s formal decision which we expect in the coming weeks.