O’Dea refuses to rule out airline U-turn

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea said yesterday he believes Aer Lingus is still for turning on the Shannon Heathrow crisis.

“I am not conceding yet that Aer Lingus can’t be persuaded to change its mind.” End game, he said, was a long way away.

“I am confident that well before we come to end game that this problem will be sorted out to the satisfaction of this region. That is my determination and that is my policy as the minister for the region. I can also tell you it is also the Government’s policy. In my view from the research and the contacts I have made it is potentially extremely serious for this area; the seriousness of it could not be overstated.”