Workers at Shannon airport have sent some 2,500 letters of protest to the Government and local TDs over the decision by Aer Lingus to drop its flights from Shannon to Heathrow.
In the latest phase of its campaign to have the Heathrow slots retained, the Shannon Action Group said the 2,500 letters are set to be delivered to TDs in the Dáil tomorrow. The letters were written by Aer Lingus employees and other Shannon Airport workers.
The correspondence calls on TDs to make representation to the Taoiseach, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to retain the Aer Lingus Shannon/Heathrow air link.
It says the connection is "as vital as the N7 road and the Iarnrod Éireann rail link to Dublin".
"It is our link to the rest of the world. Without this link, we will eventually become an unemployment blackspot where prosperity will be a thing of the past and the Celtic tiger will become the Celtic shame."
Tony Kinnane chairman of the Shannon Action Group said: "This is a national issue about national transport and regional development policy and ensuring the best possible level of transport connectivity for Ireland Inc. Shannon Heathrow slots are at risk today, but tomorrow it could be Dublin or Cork's turn."
The Shannon Action Group is seeking a meeting with the six Limerick and Clare Fianna Fáil TDs "to seek assurances from them re their commitment to the region".
Ryanair, the single largest shareholder in rival Aer Lingus, is continuing to press for an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in order to pass a motion to force the company to retain the Heathrow link.
The Government, which holds 25 per cent of Aer Lingus, has said it will not intervene as it would not be appropriate to interfere in what was a business decision by a private company.