Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

It is obvious that before Aer Lingus made this decision which has no commercial basis whatsoever, it had full consultation with the Government and was given clearance from the Minister and from the Government.

The mid-west region is one of the most dynamic in this country and in Europe. One of the main drivers of that dynamism is the Shannon-Heathrow link which has been in place for many years and operated by Aer Lingus. Many of the major industries in the region would not be there but for this connection. Managing directors and executives of companies no longer want to spend their time in planes. They want to travel to work as quickly as possible.

I spoke recently to overseas members of Ballybunion Golf Club who depend on this air link. A total of 25% to 30% of the customers of Ballybunion Golf Club travel through Heathrow. They travel from all parts of Europe and America. Without this connection there would be a significant drop in the number of golfers coming to Ballybunion and this would affect the whole town of Ballybunion which depends so much on the golf course. This is an area with very few jobs. Ballybunion was planning to spend €3 million on a second golf course and the target customers were to be drawn from the greater London and Heathrow area. The proposed golf course is currently being promoted and this marketing campaign will collapse because of this decision.

It irritates me to listen to speakers bring Iraq into the equation or to listen to Deputy Mansergh raise the issue of partition. This has nothing to do with Belfast or any other airport; it is to do with Shannon. The Members opposite who represent the mid-west region and the western seaboard will be judged on whether there will be four slots. The Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, is a good friend of mine and he is a pragmatist. Along with Deputy Ó Cuív he will be judged on whether or not these four slots will be there next January. This is how people will judge the Deputies and all the spin in the world will not fool the people of the region.

I wish to acknowledge the work of the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance which has provided us with accurate statistics and information and for encompassing all the interest groups of the area into one voice. This is a very important day for the whole region of the western seaboard. The Government has shown the white flag and the Deputies have given up on Aer Lingus connectivity with Heathrow.

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