This article is from page 83 of the 2009-06-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
BUSINESS interests have said they are “appalled” at news that transat- lantic routes are to be cut from Shan- non this winter.
Warning that transatlantic services are “vital for the future of the mid- west’, Ennis Chamber of Commerce chief executive Rita McInerney said that they were “appalled to learn of the intention to cut routes to the U.S. from Shannon. No other region in Ireland is as dependent on invest- ment and industry from the United States as the mid-west’, she said.
“The removal of connections to New York JFK and Chicago O’Hare Airports, can only lead to uncertain- ty with regard to the future of foreign direct investment in the region and will also serve to threaten the reten- tion of the existing U.S. industry.
“The Shannon Region is home to many US companies employing thousands of people, directly and indirectly, who require direct links to the major cities in the US. These jobs are now under serious threat with this announcement.”
“The mistreatment of and lack of commitment to Shannon Airport by Government 1s counteractive to their
supposed policy of Balanced Region- al Development within the country. It continues to fail to protect strategic
air links,’ Ms McInerney said. Ennis Chamber President Guy Flouch, said “At a time when local
businesses, the Chamber and other representative bodies are seeking to increase inward investment into En- nis and the Atlantic corridor, this de- cision is another short-sighted exam- ple of how the country continues to refuse to think outside the box.
“Not only will industrial growth in the mid-west benefit the region but will have an enormously positive impact on a balanced development of the country’s economic infrastruc- MUTKOMB DO CONloI ete
“The Government and Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, as the ma- jor stakeholder in Aer Lingus, should meet urgently with the Chairperson of Aer Lingus Colm Barrington to encourage a more far-sighted ap- proach – with reference to the recent decision and strategic planning – that will benefit the business of Aer Lin- gus as well as that of the mid-west and Ireland’, Mr Flouch said.