Ahern: Govt will oppose end to Shannon stopover

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has confirmed to the Dail that the government would oppose any call from Europe to end the stopover at Shannon airport.

He told opposition leaders in the Dail that a viable plan to save the Aer Lingus airline would get his support, and said details should be available within a week of a blueprint designed to save the maximum number of jobs.

Mr Ahern also rejected suggestions that Europe was pressing for an end to the Shannon halt.

But he added: "If it is put forward it will be rejected."

Meanwhile, today’s European Commission decision to permit a limited state aid for troubled national airlines, was being studied by ministers in Dublin and there was no immediate response to the move.