Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for sharing her time. This is where we will see whether the Government will stand over its policies on balanced regional development. Deputy O'Sullivan is correct to state the Government can do this on its own. It can make an application for a public service obligation, PSO, for the Shannon-Heathrow route under EU Regulation 2408/92. Article 4 refers to vital economic necessity to a region on the grounds of connectivity. Everyone is agreed we need proper connectivity, which we have through the Shannon-Heathrow route. If the Shannon-Heathrow route goes we will lose 40 city destinations and we cannot allow this to happen.

I find it regrettable the Minister for Transport is not here. On several occasions, we raised this issue on the Adjournment but he was never here to address it. Rather than lecturing us on what we should do, it is about time he stepped up to the mark with the Taoiseach and delivered on the promise of balanced regional development. A PSO is a clear route of doing so. It requires the Irish Government to apply to the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Barrot, to make the Shannon-Heathrow route a PSO route. This would effectively mean the route would be preserved for the region and the country.

We must also consider the possibility that this could apply to the Cork-Heathrow route. We seek balanced regional development throughout the country. I call on the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, to apply to the EU Commission to make the Shannon-Heathrow route a PSO route under Article 4 of EU Regulation 2408/92 on the grounds of connectivity and balanced regional development.

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