Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which discussions took place with Government or representatives of Government prior to the cessation of Aer Lingus flights from Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24463/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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A media article on 13th June 2007 reported the possibility of Aer Lingus opening a new base at Belfast. Following a query to the Company by my Department on foot of that article, the Company, on 13th June, indicated that it was considering opening a new base at Belfast and that, if the proposal proceeded, there would be implications for Shannon. An official conveyed the concerns of the Department, from an aviation and regional development perspective, about the implications for Shannon and asked the Chief Executive to give full consideration to the ways in which a new base might be accommodated before arriving at a decision, which he agreed to do. The matter was not brought to my attention.

Subsequently, an official of the Department contacted Aer Lingus on 27th July arising from a query to the Company on industrial relations matters. In the course of that conversation, it was confirmed that the Company's plans for a new base had solidified and that a formal announcement was to be made on 8th August. It was also confirmed that opening the new Belfast base would involve the reallocation of Shannon Heathrow slots to Belfast from early 2008. The official expressed concern about the impact of the loss of a Shannon — Heathrow service from an aviation and regional policy perspective, emphasised the importance of Aer Lingus commitment to Shannon and indicated that these matters would be raised with the Chief Executive of the company.

In an e-mail to my private office on 27th July the official stated "The Company intends to announce the new Belfast base on 8 August. This will involve the reallocation of Shannon-Heathrow slots to Belfast from early 2008" and referred to the concerns that he had raised. A meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive was arranged for the earliest opportunity — 3rd August — to enable me to discuss these matters with the Company. At the meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive of Aer Lingus on 3rd August, I was informed of the decision to open a hub in Belfast and of the re-allocation of all the Shannon-Heathrow slots to a new Belfast Heathrow service.

It is very clear with the benefit of hindsight that any possibility that Aer Lingus might withdraw its Shannon Heathrow service should have been brought to my attention immediately. I have asked my Secretary General for an urgent report setting out fully the circumstances and sequences of events which led to me not being informed or briefed on the matter before end July. I intend to make this report public.