Government to hold Dáil debate on Shannon

The Government has decided to confront Opposition attacks on the decision by Aer Lingus to end its Shannon-Heathrow route by having a Dáil debate on the issue when the autumn session resumes next week.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey received Cabinet approval yesterday for a debate on the issue in Government time immediately after the Dáil resumes next Wednesday.

The Labour Party had already announced its intention to table a Private Members' motion on the issue, for which it had expected the support of the other Opposition parties.

The Labour Party's motion was designed to test the credibility of Fianna Fáil TDs who had expressed hostility to the Aer Lingus decision to move its Heathrow slots from Shannon to Belfast.

Now, however, the Government will table its own motion, which it hopes will show that it recognises the importance of Shannon airport and will point out that it is working on a solution to ensure that connectivity for the midwest region is protected.

Mr Dempsey's move is also designed to ensure that Fianna Fáil TDs can unite behind the Government, despite some dissent from within the party during the summer, when the Aer Lingus decision was announced.

Labour's Limerick East TD Jan O'Sullivan has said that Labour's motion was designed to expose the pointlessness of the Government continuing to hold on to a 25.4 per cent stake in Aer Lingus if it was not prepared to use this leverage to act in the national interest by protecting the Shannon-Heathrow service.

Ms O'Sullivan also accused the Government of failing to protect business and tourism interests in the midwest region.

"When the airline was floated, a move that Labour opposed, the Government claimed that holding on to such a stake would enable them to offer protection to services such as the Shannon-Heathrow route. Some protection!" she said.