This article is from page 5 of the 2007-08-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
MORE than 300 representatives of the western seaboard’s biggest busi- nesses, tourism concerns, unions and politicians came together on Friday with one message for Aer Lingus — hands off our Shannon slots.
Among the powerful names to con- tend with at a closed but reportedly heated two-hour meeting in the Park Inn at the airport on Friday were GE, Element Six, Westpark, Aughinish Alumina, Digital River and Lufthan- 8
Smaller business interests were also represented. Among these were the Old Ground Hotel and Limerick Travel.
The trade unions turned out in force with representatives of SIPTU, Aer Lingus workers and IMPACT and the Limerick Institute of Technology were also present.
The meeting was also attended by politicians from each of the regions affected, including Minister Moira Hoctor, MEPs Marian Harkin and Sean O’Neachtain, deputies Timmy Dooley, Michael Noonan, Dan Nev- ille, Jan O’Sullivan, John Cregan, Peter Power, Jiummy Deenihan, Tom Hayes and Noel Coonan, as well as elected councillors from Clare, Lim- erick and Tipperary.
A spokesperson for Shannon De- velopment, which organised the meeting, said it was a “mark of the seriousness with which this decision is regarded that such high-profile business people have taken so much
time out to be here in person and the huge attendance is reflective of the concern that people feel on the 1s- sue.”
In a press conference held after the meeting, business and union repre- sentatives announced they intend to form an alliance and elect a steering committee of six key people repre- senting the various sectors to orches- trate a campaign and ensure there is a Shannon-Heathrow route going forward.
Shannon Development’s John Brasil said that the strategic alliance group will look at every possible solution. It will be calling for an EGM of Aer Lingus shareholders to ask that the decision be reversed.
It will also be calling on the Gov- ernment to issue a statement in sup- port of the Shannon Region and it will be seeking to have the Dail re- called.
“Key information in support of our cause is being put together by IBEC and we want everyone affected to write to the Taoiseach and the min- ister,’ said Brasil.
He said that all of the concerns at- tending the meeting were 100 per cent supportive of the decision the fight the ending of the Heathrow slots.
“The overriding concern is_ that we have to find a solution. We can no longer go from crisis to crisis in Shannon’.
Michael Houlihan, lawyer and Chairman of the regional tourism board, said the possibility of mount-
ing a legal challenge to the decision is also being examined.
Brian O’Connell, Chief Execu- tive of Westpark and Chairman of Atlantic Way, said that while it was certain that current jobs are being endangered by the decision, it is the creation of future employment and investment in the region which is also causing major concern.
‘The severance of these slots is the collapsing of a bridge — I am asking the Taoiseach and the Government to re-build that bridge, not just to protect the thousands of jobs in the region but to ensure that we can con- tinue to grow and attract investment and job creation.”
Ken Sullivan of Element Six said that there has been “incredulity” in the business community over the decision while David Silk of Nortel said his directors “see this as being one of the most significant issues we’ve had to deal with since setting up here.
“We bring 150 customers in through Shannon every year. The way we market ourselves with regard to ac- cessibiliity to Shannon via Heathrow is vital.”
Pat Shanahan told the gathered me- dia that the board of Shannon Air- port had met on Friday morning and looked at costs which Aer Lingus have in Shannon.
“If these costs are addressed by Aer Lingus and the airport addresses the landing charges in Shannon, then I believe there is an extra saving of €4 million on the route,’ he said.