Labour Transport Spokesperson Tommy Broughan T.D. has called on Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to make an urgent Dail statement on Aer Lingus’ reported €97 million per annum cost cutting plans including the possible devastating loss of 676 jobs at the company in Dublin, Cork and Shannon

Deputy Broughan said, "My request for a Dail debate on the current Aer Lingus proposals has been turned down four times this week by Minister Dempsey and his colleagues. This is completely unacceptable given the potential job losses and critical US air connectivity issues at stake here. It is outrageous that Minister Dempsey refuses to answer questions on Aer Lingus even though the state has a 25% stake in the company and the Minister has appointed directors to the board of the company.

"The use of non-Aer Lingus Astreaus crews on Aer Lingus planes flying out of Belfast is also extremely worrying. Staff have rightly opposed what would appear to be a deplorable move towards the outsourcing of pilots and crews at Aer Lingus and their replacement with contract staff on massively reduced pay and working conditions.

"Proposals by Aer Lingus Executive Chairman and CEO Colm Barrington and Christoph Mueller to transfer Aer Lingus to the UK aviation register also opens up the prospect of Aer Lingus primarily becoming a British based airline with a huge negative impact on jobs and connectivity in Ireland.

It is also striking that the current difficulties at Aer Lingus are occurring in the midst of huge changes in the aviation sector including recently announced plans to merge BA and Iberia.

"The Oireachtas Transport Committee has now invited Aer Lingus staff and their representatives to attend the Committee over the coming weeks. However, clearly Aer Lingus management should also be mandated to attend if we are to have an effective dialogue on the profound implications for Aer Lingus staff and our national aviation connectivity of these proposed cutbacks."