Shannon-Heathrow link - Our national interest lost out to greed

The ending of the Shannon-Heathrow link yesterday marks the end of an era. When the government of Seán Lemass embarked on its policy of industrialisation, the Shannon Free Airport Development Company was established as one of the jewels in that crown in 1959.

The people of this country paid for the establishment of Aer Lingus as a national airline to serve the Irish people, but it was sold off. Now naked financial considerations have replaced the national interest.

The company decided last August to transfer its valuable Heathrow slots from Shannon to Belfast.

Local politicians on all sides of Leinster House protested, but in the end their talk turned out to be mere hot air.

Tourist and business interests in the mid-west and south-west contend that breaking the link with the world’s busiest airport in London will have disastrous implications for the whole region. Their disappointment and frustration is understandable in the face of broken government promises.

The Government retained a large share in Aer Lingus, supposedly to protect the interest of the Irish people. The ultimate implications of all this will only become apparent in time.

In the interim there can be little doubt that the changes are a gamble, not just with the livelihoods of the 51 Aer Lingus workers being made redundant at Shannon Airport, but also the great many other people throughout the region who understandably feel betrayed.