Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

Since 2004, when I entered public life as a member of Limerick County Council, this has been the largest issue I have faced. Since the news broke of the decision by Aer Lingus to move the Shannon-Heathrow slots to Belfast, public concern has been overwhelming. I condemn this decision, in particular the unprofessional way in which Aer Lingus management handed it down. Much legislation is in place to protect employees with various workplace respect and dignity polices, none of which was adhered to in this case. Aer Lingus staff were treated shabbily through the selective leaking over a bank holiday weekend of a major decision affecting them. The mid-west and west have received much adverse publicity as a result of this decision. These regions face significant competitiveness issues in attracting inward foreign direct investment. The mid-west region is on the periphery of the island of Ireland, which itself is on the periphery of Europe.

I was one of the first to call on the Government to use its shareholding in Aer Lingus to discuss this decision. On foot of this, the Minister explored it and he has given his reasons for the course of action he will take. I will use my position in the Fianna Fáil Party to continue to find a solution to maintain connectivity. Those whose jobs will be affected by this Aer Lingus decision want a solution to be found.

I pay tribute to the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance and business leaders in the region. Business leaders do not normally court publicity but have come out to make a case for maintaining the Heathrow connection. I have taken part in media debates with Members from other political parties where the charge was made that people in the mid-west were overstating the case. I received correspondence from a director in Aughinish Alumina who stated:

. . . the Shannon/Heathrow route is critical as we sell our product into a global international market. Gaining and maintaining customers in an extremely competitive marketplace is a constant business challenge for us. Customer visits to the plant and key plant personnel visits to customers is fundamental to maintaining our customer base. If customers cannot visit easily, personal contact will be lost and will result in the loss of contracts. Similarly, if we cannot have direct access to our customers, then we will be at a significant disadvantage versus our competitors.

Under no circumstances was the case for maintaining the route exaggerated by anyone in the mid-west region. We must continue working to find a solution. I have also received similar correspondence from the executive managing director, Dr. Helmut Koehler, of Olympus, a Clare-based company. He stated:

I should also like to thank you for the Irish Government and the Irish Industrial Development Authority support for our Irish facility to date. We sincerely wish to see the continued development of this facility, however for this to be fulfilled there must be good connectivity.

We must all work together to maintain route connectivity for Shannon Airport.

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