Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that assurance and I am sure the trade union movement and the workers will as well.

Regarding connectivity, will the Minister give any commitment tonight to act, even to write a letter to the CEOs of the airport groups and the companies, to ensure that important routes such as Knock to Gatwick and Cork to Heathrow and the transatlantic routes involving Shannon, to name but a few, are retained? I know he does not have the power, but will he put the heavy weight of his office behind supporting these key routes? There are massive concerns. We have seen Knock's closure, which has been mentioned tonight. The workers in Shannon Airport and the region are petrified. It seems long-suffering Shannon has been going through a process of being continually denuded and attacked. This pandemic cannot be used as a method to provide a near fatal blow to Shannon Airport. It needs to be protected. The mid-west needs it vitally, so I ask that the Minister do everything in his power. I would welcome any comment he may have on this connectivity and these routes.

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