O’Sullivan calls for support on Shannon link

LABOUR deputy leader contender Jan O’Sullivan yesterday called on all mid-west and west of Ireland government deputies to support her party’s forthcoming Dáil motion calling on the Government to retain the Shannon/Heathrow link.

She said: “It has become apparent from public statements from the Taoiseach, the Minister for Transport, local ministers, and local TDs that they do not intend to interfere with the Aer Lingus decision to stop the Shannon/Heathrow link.”

She said a hand-wringing position has been taken despite assurances that the purpose of retaining the 25% equity was to protect the national interest including the Heathrow connectivity for Shannon, Cork and Dublin.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “It is clear to me that the Dáil floor is the only place where this decision can be changed. The suggestion of bringing in another airline to provide connectivity for Shannon is an entirely separate issue with no long term security and without the extensive connections available from Heathrow. We should not allow the debate to be deflected with vague promises of alternative airlines.”

She said if the Aer Lingus “commercial decision” is to go ahead there would be nothing to stop the airline transferring the Belfast, Cork or Dublin slots, to Frankfurt, Paris or anywhere further afield.

She said: “The Government cannot be allowed to treat Aer Lingus’s decision as if it had nothing to do with the airline, as it is a 25% shareholder on behalf of the Irish people.”

Speaking in Limerick yesterday Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said: “The issue is not going away. It will be high on the Dáil agenda when the House resumes on September 26.”

He said the party had tabled a motion calling on the Government to honour its commitments to the Dáil and the public prior to privatisation of Aer Lingus and to take all appropriate steps to ensure that the Shannon-Heathrow Aer Lingus service is maintained.