Sir, I join with you in granulating Aer Rianta on its impressive financial results, and agree with you that it is a model of what a successful company, private or public, should be. I do not believe, however, that Aer Rianta or the Irish consumer will fare better if the company were to follow yours prescription for the future.
You display a categorical disdain for the option of borrowing in order to grow, and impress the Government to cease taking their dividend in order that Aer Rianta can fuel growth internally. While internal growth is indeed how some companies prosper, nearly all will at least look at the economics of borrowing before dismissing it out of hand without a reason, like you do in your editorial.
You do an even greater disservice not only to Aer Rianta, but also to Irish and European consumers however, by urging the Government to take on Aer Rianta's case to retain duty free shopping within European nations, simply for Aer Rianta's bottom line. While I laud Aer Rianta and want it to succeed, I don't know how happy people in Ireland and Europe would be to retain high levels of VAT in the supermarkets and off licences in order for Aer Rianta to post more record profits.
Better for Aer Rianta to look to future opportunities in new markets and not to hide behind outdated legislation which will inevitably disappear. Better for us too. Yours etc.,
Nevada Street,
Newton,
Massachusetts.