Ms Helen Downes:

I thank the Chairman for the invitation to make a presentation to this meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications on the impact of a potential sale of Aer Lingus. I am attending in my role as chief executive of Shannon Chamber of Commerce. I will make my presentation in collaboration with the interim chief executive of Limerick Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Órlaith Borthwick. We are also joined by Frank Greene, president of Galway Chamber of Commerce. The concerns and views my colleagues and I will present also have the backing of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce.

The content and substance of our submission is being made on behalf of the economic corridor which stretches from Galway to Ennis, Shannon and Limerick, 1,355 businesses which form the membership of the four chambers in the area in question and 45,700 people who are directly employed in the region by these businesses. I have submitted to the joint committee a document setting out our position. As I am conscious of time, I will proceed to posing the key question that arises on this issue, namely, what vision do we have for Ireland? Do we want the country to remain an internationally traded open economy, with global corporations conducting business globally? If so, we must keep the issue of connectivity to the fore when considering the sale of Aer Lingus. Connectivity is vital for the retention and growth of business on this island nation. We cannot afford to allow it to be determined by market forces. Instead, it must centre on the needs of citizens, business and tourism.

Our focus is less about ownership and more about ensuring that the 23 slot pairs connecting London Heathrow and Irish airports are retained to ensure connectivity to each airport, not only Dublin Airport, is maintained. This requirement must be enshrined in Government policy regardless of ownership. It must be central to the decision-making process and any subsequent deal with IAG or another carrier. Cast-iron and long-term guarantees must be provided to ensure the slots at Heathrow are maintained for access from Irish airports, including the three major regional airports. A minimum of three slots for Shannon Airport must be retained at all costs. Should competition authorities consider that the combined total of slots occupied by IAG and Aer Lingus is anti-competitive, any displacement of Dublin slots should be allocated to the other airports in Ireland, thus facilitating delivery of a more balanced economy and resulting in at least the same number of slots for Ireland Inc.

The loss of the London Heathrow slots would be at odds with the Government's plans to correct regional imbalance and add a hollow ring to the concern expressed by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, that Ireland would "pay a heavy economic social cost in years to come if regional imbalances are not addressed". Airports, including Shannon Airport, play a vital role in the economic and social development of their region and act both as a gateway and an engine of growth. Why should such strong emphasis be placed on developing national aviation and tourism policies, on the one hand, if connectivity is reduced on the other? Notwithstanding any short-term gain, the sale of Aer Lingus has the potential to do detrimental damage to the country’s economic well-being in the long term. The financial gain of circa €320 million in the context of a €67 billion bailout does not warrant the potential detrimental impact the loss of connectivity would have. Any potential return must be assessed in the context of the risk exposure to be realised.