Industry ‘facing disaster if strategic link broken’

EX-PRESIDENT of the University of Limerick Dr Ed Walsh yesterday warned of a disaster for industry on the western seaboard if Aer Lingus proceeds with its controversial proposal to end the Shannon-Heathrow route.

“The Government must be active in retaining a Shannon to Heathrow air bridge. Its removal would be the equivalent of a major communication disaster,” he said.

In the past, Dr Walsh angered pro-Shannon lobby groups by supporting Open Skies and the abolition of protectionism at Shannon through government-given concessions on transatlantic routes. He claimed some enterprises were already moving from the western part of Ireland to more labour-intensive markets in eastern Europe, India and China.