Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I beg the Acting Chairman's indulgence on a matter of vital interest for the mid-west and Limerick. It is absolutely shameful that the Minister for Transport is not in the Chamber tonight. When I was elected to the Dáil in 2007, the first issue before the House was the Shannon-Heathrow route. At that time, the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, stated he was disowning the problem of dealing with the 25% stake. When the Government retained its 25% stake in Aer Lingus, it did so for strategic reasons. I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister on the transatlantic routes Aer Lingus operated from Shannon to which I got a two-line response stating that commercial operational matters at Aer Lingus are a matter for the management and board of the company. The Minister has three appointees on the board and he should be in the House tonight. We all know Aer Lingus has difficulties because of today's world markets but what is now required is a consideration of what can be done to keep a sustainable transatlantic service from Shannon Airport that will involve the retention of the 127 cabin staff based there.

The Heathrow route was taken from Shannon and Aer Lingus had to restore it because it was profitable. It made the wrong decision and is now making the wrong decision about the transatlantic routes and the removal of the cabin crew based at Shannon Airport. Negotiations are getting under way between unions and management. The Minister for Transport should use the 25% stake to ensure Aer Lingus looks at the broad overall perspective for a sustainable base in Shannon Airport for transatlantic routes.

Aer Lingus should be using the customer border clearance facility at Shannon Airport. Why is it not doing so? The Government paid for that facility to be based there. It is a 25% stakeholder. Why does it not insist that Aer Lingus use the facility?

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