Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

Coming from north Tipperary, I cannot over-emphasise the importance of Shannon Airport, the Heathrow-Shannon link and all the other links that are being developed. We welcome the fact that over 50 destinations are served through Shannon and this has a very positive impact on north Tipperary. However, the decision by Aer Lingus to close the Shannon-Heathrow link came as a major disappointment. I believe it will see the error of this decision as time unfolds. Already we see that the take-up in Belfast is quite poor. Heathrow is already being served from Belfast by other airlines and consequently I do not yet understand Aer Lingus's decision.

I, like my party colleagues, called on the Minister for Transport and the Marine and the Taoiseach to intervene in the airline's decision. Legal advice was taken, the articles of association were examined and we learned it was not possible to intervene in the way proposed.

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