'Govt should overthrow Shannon pull-out plans': O'Dea

Cabinet Minister Willie O’Dea today insisted the Government should, if necessary, use its shares in Aer Lingus to overthrow plans for a partial pull-out of Shannon.

But the Minister for Defence stressed his hopes that another resolution could be found, as Fianna Fáil politicians from the west of Ireland gathered to demand the link with Heathrow be retained.

Mr O’Dea accepted that state interference in the airline it privatised just last year could damage share prices and would undermine management.

But he was adamant that should no alternative be found to the continuing crisis, then the Government should try to overthrow the decision to move slots to Belfast at a “D-Day” extraordinary general meeting.

“My position is the Government should do all it can to get this decision reversed and maintain connectivity between Shannon and the rest of the world,” he said.

“I would prefer that to be done in the absence of the management being forced to do it at an EGM.

“If, as a last resort, it comes to an EGM and the problem isn’t resolved, then obviously the Government should, in my view, use its votes to ensure the connectivity between Shannon and the rest of the world is maintained.”

The Limerick East TD was one of around 100 Fianna Fáil politicians from throughout the west coast who met at Shannon last night over the ongoing controversy.

The representatives agreed to seek a meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to further impress upon him the threat to the region, according to Mr O’Dea.

Mr O’Dea insisted the planned move of Aer Lingus’ Heathrow routes from Shannon to Belfast would impact on the economy of the whole country.

“I don’t think calling EGMs and overruling management is the way to run a private company, I don’t think that will help the share price, I don’t think it will help management,” he said.

“But the fact of the matter is that we are facing a severe crisis here in the midwest, [and] I’m hoping that we can convey to Aer Lingus management exactly how much damage their decision is going to do, not just to the midwest but by extension to the economy as a whole, and persuade them to change their minds.

“Or alternatively to get some alternative in place before it comes to the actual D-Day of an EGM.”

Mr O’Dea also suggested remarks by his Cabinet colleague Transport Minister Noel Dempsey about the severity of the threat were ill-founded.

“Noel is taking his own advice and I think in this situation unfortunately the advice does not fully convey the seriousness of the situation,” he told RTE Radio.

On the Morning Ireland programme he attacked Aer Lingus bosses for announcing the decision while the Cabinet were on holiday.

“I think the decision couldn’t have been announced at a worse time,” he said.