Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

These are multinational companies that are still prepared to invest in this region. Of course, I will be asking the Minister to ensure that Shannon is included in this and that we get significant investment in the industrial zone there to offset the job losses that have occurred recently at Element Six and others. I also take this opportunity to say to Aer Lingus that it removed the Shannon-Heathrow service last year on the basis that the cost base at Shannon was too high, but the workers have now put forward an aggressive cost-cutting plan. They have put the interests of the region well before their own personal interests. It is time Aer Lingus recognised that and immediately reinstated the Heathrow-Shannon link. It is vital to the continued competitiveness of the region, it is vital for connectivity and it is vital for the maintenance and growth of the job market in the region.

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