It really is a very depressing situation for Aer Lingus. The airline stands on the edge of the most exciting period in its history. If Open Skies goes through, I don't think the govt will be able to do much to pressure or force them, BUT the govt will be doing all it can to fight for a competitive disadvantage, to keep the stopover going beyond the introduction of open skies. You have to step back and think about this; despite it being clear that the stopover doesn't actually help SNN and the anachronistic idea that you can somehow help growth in one place by holding it back in another, the govt is going to fight for this. It's going to argue that we in Ireland - the country which most needs open skies - should have a competitive disdvantage vis a vis EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN EUROPE. We have to hope that the Americans hold their line and hold fast against the stopover.
As for Canada, you're right; this is unaffected. And what you think of the chances that Ireland will open talks with Canada? Rather fat, I'd say.
Against this background and with the unions angling for new national pay talks and an election due in 2007, how likely to you think it is that the Dear Leader will allow privatisation to go ahead?