GwynM. Don't know where you're getting your ideas from. Have you ever flown EI? How familiar are you with the Irish aviation industry? Perhaps you should check some of your facts.
Aer Lingus is the only airline providing true competition to Ryanair at any of their bases. FR and EI have a fairly 50/50 share at DUB where they compete head-on... means many people still prefer EI.
Also EI is not in the difficult financial situation MOL wants to make people believe.