TDs and Senators also queried the amount of money that senior Aer Lingus executives and management could be in line to receive if an IAG takeover went ahead. They could get those payments under the Aer Lingus long term incentive plan. IMPACT national secretary Matt Staunton insisted that a takeover entails "significant risk" for Aer Lingus and the country. He said that when Willie Walsh was chief executive of Aer Lingus between 2001 and 2004 "2,500 Irish jobs disappeared forever". The Oireachtas committee hearing is taking place amid a vacuum of information from IAG and Aer Lingus. IAG has indicated that it will retain connectivity, the Aer Lingus brand and Aer Lingus management if it buys the airline. Willie Walsh has already met Aer Lingus executives and politicians in an effort to persuade them that a takeover will be a good deal for the Irish airline and the country.