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Taoiseach steps in to Shannon debate  TAOISEACH
Bertie Ahern this week made his first direct intervention in the row over
Aer Lingus’s decision to axe flights between Britain and Shannon
Airport.
His move came as opposition to the move grew on this side of the Irish
Sea.
Irish Post readers across Britain have united to condemn Aer Lingus’
plans to end its London Heathrow to Shannon service and redirect the planes
to Belfast.
Reader Mary O’Halloran from Essex said: “We use this service
once or twice a year and this is a body blow to us.
“It seems Aer Lingus has refused to listen to the wishes of its
passengers.”
She was backed by Frank Horgan from Northampton.
He said: “We can’t believe they are doing this.
“It means many passengers will now be unable to fly into the South
West of Ireland.”
An Irish Post web poll also revealed 67 per cent of respondents were in
favour of the Irish Government intervening in the row.
Mr Ahern this week asked a group of senior officials to urgently examine
the ramifications of the Aer Lingus decision.
In his first public involvement in the controversy the Taoiseach said
he wanted the officials to evaluate the impact of the transfer of Heathrow
slots from Shannon Airport to Belfast.
He made it clear his own department officials would take the lead in a
group that will report back to the Cabinet.
A government spokesman said the work would be undertaken as a matter of
urgency and officials would be reporting back to the Taoiseach within
weeks.
But the wording of the statement sent a further message the government
was unlikely to try to reverse the decision taken by Aer Lingus chief
executive Dermot Mannion and the airline management.
The government believes the slot transfer to Belfast is a done deal and
that the task now is to reassure business and tourist interests in the
Shannon area that the region won’t suffer as a result.
Politicians, business leaders and tourism chiefs have all voiced fears
the ending of the Heathrow service will be a major blow to the area.
Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan said the government’s latest move
was an indication it had been shaken by the level of reaction to the Aer
Lingus decision.
The Limerick East TD said: “So much of the industry in the Shannon
region was built up on the basis that we had an international airport
with connectivity whereas industry in other regions wouldn’t be
built up on that basis.
“So that’s what makes it different and why there was an underestimation
in the rest of the country about the strength of the feeling in the region.” |
