Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I apologise. I should have answered the Deputy's question instead of making that remark. No number is specified. A Deputy spoke earlier about the concern that the US side might pull back as a result of the announcement made by Delta Air Lines and Aer Lingus. I was reminded before my meeting with the US Secretary for Homeland Security to raise that specific issue. When I raised it during the course of yesterday's meeting, I was absolutely assured that while the US authorities were aware of the withdrawal of the services in question, it would make no difference — the full complement of staff would operate at Shannon Airport.

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