Dempsey warns of overstating Shannon impact

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey yesterday stood by his comments that some claims made about the impact of the loss of the Shannon to Heathrow service were “exaggerated”.

He argued that overstating the impact might cause damage to the region, adding that it was not in anybody’s interests to create an impression that there was devastation. His comments amounted to a mild public dressing down of Cabinet colleague Defence Minister Willie O’Dea.

He said that some of Mr O’Dea’s comments — including his “Armageddon” remark and his claim that the transport minister was not getting good advice — were among the “scarier statements”.