Madam, - When I was growing up in Belfast in the 1960s a regular charge from unionist hardliners was that nationalists were devious, unreliable and not to be trusted. This was the justification for Basil Brooke's notorious remark that he wouldn't have a Catholic about the place.
If, through political pressure or trade union obduracy, Aer Lingus is forced to reverse its decision to transfer its Heathrow operation to Belfast, we will have proved these critics right and will have dealt a serious blow to the burgeoning trust between both parts of this island. - Yours, etc,
EUGENE McELDOWNEY, Howth, Co Dublin.
Madam, - I must take particular exception to an aspect of Gerry Byrne's report on Shannon ( Weekend Review, August 11th). On most days of the week there are just two (early morning) flights from Shannon to Dublin (some days there is just one). All of these flights are transatlantic airbuses and their on-time departure from Shannon is subject to the vagaries of US east coast weather delays.
To suggest that business travellers from the Shannon region should take three flights (via Dublin and via Heathrow) to get to a mainland Europe destination is naive. Transit times alone at Dublin and Heathrow would gobble up about five hours of the day - and this does not count flying time.
A return journey to Shannon from Europe or the UK via Dublin requires a very early departure from Europe or the UK because the last Dublin-Shannon flight leaves at lunchtime. Such a dismal schedule does not constitute a "service" in the true meaning of the word.
All of the above clearly means that a day return to Europe is impossible via Dublin - even for a short business meeting. This demonstrates what business leaders in the west have been saying: our competitiveness, our efficiency and our ability to do business would be damaged by the loss of the direct Heathrow flights. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL EVANS, President, Ennis Chamber of Commerce, O'Connell Street, Ennis.
Madam, - Any flights from Dublin, Cork or Belfast to Heathrow can originate at Shannon. The additional time in transit is likely to be little more than the real difference in check-in times between quiet regional airports and Dublin. This is apart from the several direct daily flights from Shannon to other London airports. I fail to see a reason for businesses to flee the Shannon region.
We should not forget that Aer Lingus may well have disappeared like Swissair, Sabena and others had it not been forced to square up commercially to Ryanair prior to the 2001 aviation industry crisis.
Commercial decision-making is vital to the survival of any enterprise. This whole debacle is an illustration of why Aer Lingus must remain independent. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL CROWE, Vico Road, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Madam, - It's very simple really. If the Government forces Aer Lingus management to change its position on Shannon-Heathrow, the chief executive and his management team have only one option: resign.
If that happens the share price and investor confidence will collapse.
In such circumstances the chances of finding a new CEO to replace Dermot Mannion are roughly zero. I mean, how could the CEO of a plc, in a real and competitive market, allow itself to be subject to the political whims of the Government?
In such a scenario there is only one white knight. Take a bow, Mr O'Leary. - Yours, etc,
BRIAN LOONEY, Thomond Square, Cork.