A controversial motion urging Limerick City Council to boycott Aer Lingus because of its decision to end its Shannon-Heathrow service was withdrawn at an emergency meeting of the local authority last night.
The proposal by Fine Gael councillor Diarmuid Scully called for a complete ban on all officials and elected members of the council using Aer Lingus flights when travelling on council business.
After much heated debate, during which Cllr Scully was accused of trying to "gain publicity", the former Aer Lingus employee withdrew his proposal.
However, Cllr Scully said he would bring the motion again if the Government refused to use its 25 per cent stake in Aer Lingus to vote against the board's decision.
"We're in a fight not just with Aer Lingus, I believe we're in a fight with the Government, as I believe the Government is prepared to use its vote to close the Shannon Heathrow service," he said.
After an hour it was clear that Cllr Scully's motion was not going to be supported by anyone outside his own party.
It was finally agreed that party leaders would meet privately and after 30 minutes Mayor Ger Fahy read a new motion to the council, which was unanimously supported.
It calls on Aer Lingus and the Government to "immediately reverse their decision to cancel the Shannon Heathrow route and if necessary the Government should use its 25 per cent shareholding to ensure the continuation of this service".
Meanwhile, the president of the University of Limerick, Don Barry, reiterated his concern over the Aer Lingus decision at a graduation ceremony yesterday.
"For the university itself there are significant implications to this decision. UL attracts over 1,200 international students from 70 countries each year, many of whom transit through Heathrow airport on flights from Asia and the US," he said.
"The ending of this air connection will cause cost and logistical difficulties for these students," he said.