Shannon stopover to end

THE Government has agreed to end the Shannon stopover with the US authorities, it confirmed last night.

Talks to decide a phasing out period ended without agreement yesterday but will continue over the next few weeks.

“We are meeting specifically to discuss a phasing out period as we do not want to pull the carpet out on day one,” said a spokesperson for Transport Minister Martin Cullen. The Government wants a phasing out period of between two to three years to begin when the EU completes negotiations with the US on a new open skies agreement.