The government to consider selling the airports

ilovesleep

The irish times reports that the government is to consider selling the airports in an effort to raise funds for the country.

Here is hoping they consider selling RTE and bus eireann too.

Killer Pigeon

The whole thing whiffs of that Thatcher hag.

Pauleta

We should sell the naming rights to the airports. We will get millions for nothing. Im not opposed to selling the airports either.

g_moriarty

This could really land us some much needed cash.

Slydice

Welcome to Michael O'Leary International Airport:D

Ireland’s three main airports could be sold off as part of privatisation plans
http://www.thejournal.ie/irelands-three-main-airports-could-be-sold-off-as-part-of-privatisation-plans-122444-Apr2011/
42 minutes ago

A REPORT TO be presented to the cabinet this week will propose a plan to sell off Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports as well as state-owned sea ports around the country.

WIZE

Micheal o Leary will want to buy them but they wont be sold to him

MIN2511

How much money can we get for Dublin airport on it's own?

123balltv

'Bono airport' I heard Bono was jealous of Liverpool's John Lennon airport

galwayrush

MIN2511 wrote: »

How much money can we get for Dublin airport on it's own?

Less than it cost to build T2.:rolleyes:

MIN2511

galwayrush wrote: »

Less than it cost to build T2.:rolleyes:

No to the sale then.... That's ridiculous!

phasers

Let's all throw in a few quid and buy The After Hours International airport

squod

Couple of years ago we were buying ''back'' the M50. Now we're selling the ports and we've already sold ourselves off to slavery over the debts of banks.

Here's an idea, why don't we just sell off treasury buildings, it's staff, advisors and political leaders..........



















..... Because no other country in the world would have them.

Is it not better to keep them? Surely they're making money? And isn't it predicted that T2 will be mad busy in less than four or five years?

Surely we'd make more money in the long run by holding on to them?

As for the names, I wouldn't mind Coca Cola international airport or such, but only for the other airports; I'd leave Dublin as "Dublin International Airport" and I'd never change it.

Though seen as it's a new building, couldn't they add some mad LEDS or such onto it, to make the building a gigantic billboard, and charge big companies to use it?

Kinda like WWE's titantron is just a big wall of graphics;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFmUWpPDaKo&feature=related


Same thing, but outdoors and with big swirling 'Coca Cola' or 'Microsoft' or whatever logos on it. I'm sure they could make a few quid from that, especially considering you've to drive under the building to get into the airport. (and as far as i recall, there already are some blue LEDs decorating it, so it surely wouldn't be too hard to add a bit of technical wirzardry to put companies graphics on it).


Why don't we have billboards at the sides of roads?

Biggins

WIZE wrote: »

Micheal o Leary will want to buy them but they wont be sold to him

If they were to be put on the open market for sale, would there is a legal basis that could be used to stop him buying them?

I ask because if the government decided to block him in particular from the buying process, there might be further legal issues of unfair practise/discrimination thrown upon the government and you can be sure O'Leary would take his case to the European Courts!

If they are to be up for sale, they should be up for sale to all - not just a case of you, you and you but not him!

omg a kitty

Surely this is a joke?

Daegerty

As long as they don't sell Knock I don't mind too much

whiteonion

It's not a joke
http://www.examiner.ie/breakingnews/ireland/government-to-consider-selling-airports-501624.html

Government to consider selling airports
Sunday, April 17, 2011 - 10:22 AM
The Government is due to examine proposals to sell off our three main airports in an effort to raise funds for the country.

Captain Darling

omg a kitty wrote: »

Surely this is a joke?

Its not and dont call me Shirley.

orourkeda

Biggins wrote: »

If they were to be put on the open market for sale, would there is a legal basis that could be used to stop him buying them?

I ask because if the government decided to block him in particular from the buying process, there might be further legal issues of unfair practise/discrimination thrown upon the government and you can be sure O'Leary would take his case to the European Courts!

If they are to be up for sale, they should be up for sale to all - not just a case of you, you and you but not him!

Perhaps stopping Michael O'Leary from at least launching a bid would be financially prohibitive given our nations current predicament

Daegerty

Captain Darling wrote: »

Its not and dont call me Shirley.

Shirley Templebar?

The_Thing

If Con RyanAir's miser-in-chief buys our airports I will get a ferry to the UK and fly with one of his competitors to and from my destination from there.

I will never give a cent to that arrogant tosser.

opinion guy

squod wrote: »

Couple of years ago we were buying ''back'' the M50. Now we're selling the ports and we've already sold ourselves off to slavery over the debts of banks.

Here's an idea, why don't we just sell off treasury buildings, it's staff, advisors and political leaders..........



















..... Because no other country in the world would have them.

Unlike the other things you've mentioned the M50 makes a **** load of cash

Killer Pigeon

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

The whole thing whiffs of that Thatcher hag.

But in fairness we do need less government control.

Naikon

Sell them, I say.

The_Thing

The_Thing wrote: »

If Con RyanAir's miser-in-chief buys our airports I will get a ferry to the UK and fly with one of his competitors to and from my destination from there.

I will never give a cent to that arrogant tosser.

Enjoy that.

Michael O'Leary has earned the right to be arrogant. He's turned around a fledging airline and stripped it of all its fat. He's now the CEO of one of the biggest airlines in the world.

How did he do this? By cutting the fat.

If the people in charge of the country had half the brains or the balls that O'Leary had with making worthwhile, efficient changes, we wouldn't be in this mess.

opinion guy

Daegerty wrote: »

As long as they don't sell Knock I don't mind too much

I hope this is sarcasm

Daegerty

opinion guy wrote: »

I hope this is sarcasm

No. I'd be fierce disappointed if they sold Knock. but it looks like they only want to sell the main 3. I say good riddance

opinion guy

Daegerty wrote: »

No. I'd be fierce disappointed if they sold Knock. but it looks like they only want to sell the main 3. I say good riddance

For the love of God why ?

If they could convince anyone to buy it for any kind of price they should sell it in a second. Thou I doubt anyone would buy it

whiteonion

I wish Michael O'Leary was in charge of Ireland.

Mint Sauce

Say what you like about MOL, but selling an airport to him wouldn't be the worse idea. So many of the airports currently operating would not be doing as well as they are now if it were not for Ryanair flights.

The_Thing

Deleted User wrote: »

Enjoy that.

Michael O'Leary has earned the right to be arrogant. He's turned around a fledging airline and stripped it of all its fat. He's now the CEO of one of the biggest airlines in the world.

How did he do this? By cutting the fat.

If the people in charge of the country had half the brains or the balls that O'Leary had with making worthwhile, efficient changes, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Only an arrogant tosser like him would think he's above the law - the EU had to have a word with him over his attempted refusal to pay his passengers compensation to which they were due under the law.

MIN2511

MIN2511 wrote: »

No to the sale then.... That's ridiculous!

What. Seriously flawed logic.

The_Thing

The_Thing wrote: »

Only an arrogant tosser like him would think he's above the law - the EU had to have a word with him over his attempted refusal to pay his passengers compensation to which they were due under the law.

The man can be as arrogant as he wants to be.. He's an absolute legend. Anyone who thinks otherwise is out of touch with reality.

opinion guy

Ok question.

How much money do the airports actually make ?

Biggins

orourkeda wrote: »

Perhaps stopping Michael O'Leary from at least launching a bid would be financially prohibitive given our nations current predicament

Yes - but on what legal basis is anyone allowed say "You in particular are not allowed to bid but others in similar businesses can!"

...Add to that the Irish and European Equality laws which would come into force related to fair open business practise.

Not a just a direct question to yourself orourkeda but open question.
I have studied business and company law full time for over a year and I cannot see the man being stopped from bidding on an equal basis without holy hell breaking lose in the Irish and European courts.

Daegerty

Biggins wrote: »

Yes - but on what legal basis is anyone allowed say "You in particular are not allowed to bid but others in similar businesses can!"

...Add to that the Irish and European Equality laws which would come into force related to fair open business practise.

Not a just a direct question to yourself orourkeda but open question.
I have studied business and company law full time for over a year and I cannot see the man being stopped from bidding on an equal basis without holy hell breaking lose in the Irish and European courts.

competition law, abuse of dominance and all that oul malarky maybe. not sure if it applies to Michael though, how much market share does the fecker have?

minidazzler

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

The whole thing whiffs of that Thatcher hag.

In before Enda says there is no society.

Biggins

Daegerty wrote: »

competition law, abuse of dominance and all that oul malarky maybe. not sure if it applies to Michael though, how much market share does the fecker have?

Those would relate to monopoly laws of the country for sure but as Mr Leary has not been going around snapping up European airports (that we know of!) I can't see on that basis, the government stopping him from bidding.

My name is URL

Deleted User wrote: »

The man can be as arrogant as he wants to be.. He's an absolute legend. Anyone who thinks otherwise is out of touch with reality.

Anyone who doesn't agree that he's a legend is out of touch with reality?

He's certainly a successful businessman, but he's abrasive, conniving and totally self-serving. He's known to have lied on various occasions and was found to have misrepresented a judges remarks in official correspondence with the state.

I don't know what criteria people use to define legends, but they're obviously not the same as the ones I use. It never ceases to amaze me how people say they'd love to see O'Leary running the country.

Biggins

My name is URL wrote: »

Anyone who doesn't agree that he's a legend is out of touch with reality?

He's certainly a successful businessman, but he's abrasive, conniving and totally self-serving. He's known to have lied on various occasions and was found to have misrepresented a judges remarks in official correspondence with the state.

I don't know what criteria people use to define legends, but they're obviously not the same as the ones I use. It never ceases to amaze me how people say they'd love to see O'Leary running the country.

Another Bertie, Haughty, etc in all but name and looks!

markpb

opinion guy wrote: »

Ok question.

How much money do the airports actually make ?

Last year, Dublin made 35m, Cork lost more than 10m and Shannon lost more than 5m. (link)

My name is URL

My name is URL wrote: »

Anyone who doesn't agree that he's a legend is out of touch with reality?

He's certainly a successful businessman, but he's abrasive, conniving and totally self-serving. He's known to have lied on various occasions and was found to have misrepresented a judges remarks in official correspondence with the state.

I don't know what criteria people use to define legends, but they're obviously not the same as the ones I use. It never ceases to amaze me how people say they'd love to see O'Leary running the country.

Totally Ryanair-Serving.
To his own public detriment sometimes.


In terms of business / economics / strategy the guy couldn't have gotten more things right even if he had have had the benefit of hindsight. If you look at his role, the CEO of an Airline, and see how much more than that he is and has been, and how it has helped and transformed his company, then it's pretty easy to think of him as a legend.

Gunmonkey

phasers wrote: »

Let's all throw in a few quid and buy The After Hours International airport

How about "Atari Jaguar International Airport"

My name is URL

My name is URL wrote: »

Anyone who doesn't agree that he's a legend is out of touch with reality?

He's certainly a successful businessman, but he's abrasive, conniving and totally self-serving. He's known to have lied on various occasions and was found to have misrepresented a judges remarks in official correspondence with the state.

I don't know what criteria people use to define legends, but they're obviously not the same as the ones I use. It never ceases to amaze me how people say they'd love to see O'Leary running the country.

Agree to disagree so.. I think he's a legend for bringing cheap travel to all of Europe and for his business expertise.

You think the country would have such a hole in it he was in charge? Not a hope.. Primary school teachers and farmers are running the country. It never ceases to amaze me how people doubt that O Leary would to a better a job of it.

BEASTERLY

Seriously hope this doesnt go ahead, privatization always ends horribly in ireland. Look at where eircom is today

MagicMarker

Erm, even if MOL were to bid, where would he get the money from? Oh that's right, Irish banks (presumably).

Me thinks not.

MagicMarker

MagicMarker wrote: »

Erm, even if MOL were to bid, where would he get the money from? Oh that's right, Irish banks (presumably).

Me thinks not.

Probably from backers who would jump at the chance to loan MO'L money.

That being said, the only way that MO'L would be involved in the sales is if there's a chance that it is beneficial to his company, and that it would be a profitable exercise.

Which I think might be a stretch....

Kinetic^

I don't think selling them is the right way to go. I'd put the running of the airports up for tender though. Keep the assets in the country's name, unlike the Eircom debacle.

MagicMarker wrote: »

Erm, even if MOL were to bid, where would he get the money from? Oh that's right, Irish banks (presumably).

Me thinks not.

I'd imagine he'd have no problem getting funding from any bank in the world.

Why presume Irish banks? O Leary could get a loan of the Greeks if he looked for it.

jetsonx

If the sale of Irish airports purges the DAA of the incompetent Fianna Fail cronies that are on it's board...I think its a great idea.

Cosmo Kramer

Daegerty wrote: »

No. I'd be fierce disappointed if they sold Knock. but it looks like they only want to sell the main 3. I say good riddance

You do realise that if the Government wanted to sell Knock they would actually need to buy it first?