Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome the fact there will be a significant announcement on aviation in the coming days. The survival of Aer Lingus is critical to Ireland and to the mid-west, in particular, but any bailout it gets must be a return journey. If it gets €150 million, which I understand it is seeking, we need three commitments from it. First, it must maintain the Heathrow slots in and out of Shannon. Second, it must commit to long-term to strategic routes, transatlantic and in and out of Heathrow, because that is what is required from a foreign direct investment and tourism perspective, particularly with North America. Third, it must reverse the decision it made last week to permanently close its base in Shannon.

Aer Lingus should get the money it is looking for, but it cannot come without conditions. We cannot give a blank cheque. We must get those commitments in return. I call on the Minister and the Government to ensure that happens.