We must campaign to ensure Shannon stays on the international map

THE decision to end the Shannon stopover, thereby threatening the future of the airport, was taken in Brussels between the United States and Europe and shows how powerless the Dublin administration is when it comes to safeguarding Irish jobs.

With the ending of the Shannon stopover, the livelihood of many hundreds of workers are threatened because other airports may now compete with Shannon for international air links.

The stopover was a vital instrument of regional development and was so recognised in national policy by successive administrations since the airport was established after WWII. Shannon has proved to be a magnet attracting industrial development and providing thousands of jobs in the midwest.