State ‘must back Ryanair’
The EGM will have to be convened within eight weeks following the Ryanair move on Tuesday.
John Brassil, who chairs the newly formed Atlantic Connectivity Alliance, said Ryanair’s move is welcome in the context of enabling the Government to reverse the decision of the Aer Lingus executive management team of one week ago.
Mr Brassil is also chairman of Shannon Development.
Mr Brassil said: “We would welcome any proposal that would bring about a reversal of the decision to withdraw what is a key piece of infrastructure in what is a powerful economic region and we will be waiting with interest on the Government’s response in relation to Ryanair’s move.”
Mr Brassil said it is officially calling on the Government to back the proposal at the EGM to overturn the decision to remove these slots.
“The entire west, mid-west and midlands regions, across business, tourism and other sectors, are heavily dependent on these slots for connectivity to key international markets.
“It is incumbent on the Government that it does whatever is necessary to protect them now and into the future, in accordance with the spirit of the National Spatial Strategy for balanced regional development,” said Mr Brassil.
He said the Government now has a clear opportunity to make a stand on this and force the reversal of a decision that should never have been made by the company.
