Communications policy expected after Aer Lingus fiasco

The Government is expected to put measures in place to improve departmental communications following the recent controversy surrounding the Department of Transport and Aer Lingus.

In a report last night, the most senior official at the department confirmed that she knew about an Aer Lingus proposal to scrap its Shannon-Heathrow service as far back as June.

However, secretary general Julie O'Neill says she did not inform Minister Noel Dempsey about the matter because Aer Lingus had told her that no final decision had been taken.

Ms O'Neill says she was told that a range of options were being considered in relation to the future of Shannon-Heathrow flights.

Mr Dempsey says the officials involved have acknowledged that he should have been informed and have apologised to him personally.

He also says he still has full confidence in them because of the way they have worked with him since he joined the department.