Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

The bottom line in this debate is that when Aer Lingus was privatised we received assurances from Ministers that notwithstanding the privatisation the connection slots at Shannon and other airports would be safeguarded by the State's continued ownership of 25.4% of the company. The Dáil was given those assurances. If the Government now states it will not interfere in the matter then the Minister misled the Dáil when the privatisation Bill was going through. If the Government is now washing its hands of the matter why is it holding on to the 25% share? It does not make sense. Why does it not sell the shares?

The decision to transfer the slots from Shannon will have a serious effect on business, tourism and jobs in our region. The Government Ministers acknowledge that the decision is contrary to Government regional and aviation policy. The Government professes to be committed to regional development through the national spatial strategy. If it is committed in the programme for Government to a link road corridor between Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Shannon and Galway and if it is serious in its commitment to these projects, why is it now standing idly by and allowing this decision to be made? Nero fiddled when Rome burned. I do not know if fiddles were even invented at that time but there are certainly fiddles now.

The decision to transfer the Shannon-Heathrow slots from Shannon will have serious repercussions for tourism business in the mid-west and in Galway. It is estimated that Galway receives 12,000 tourists a year through Shannon. Hundreds of millions of euro of taxpayers' money was expended on grants and tax incentives and on the refurbishment of hotels in the region. Is the Government aware of the devastating effect the loss of this business will have on the region? I call on the Ministers and Deputies in the region who initially spoke out against this decision to stand up and be counted. Where is my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív in this matter? Where is comedian Minister, Deputy O'Dea today? He was in great form yesterday but I do not hear much of him today.

What is happening to Shannon now could happen to Cork or Dublin at the executive will of Aer Lingus. The Government is setting a precedent whereby it will be unable to stop this happening. Nobody is safe from the so-called commercial decisions. This is not solely a matter for the mid-west region.

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