A DEBATE on what State assets are strategic and non strategic in relation to the remaining State shareholding in Aer Lingus, is now a matter of urgency, according to Deputy Niall Collins FF. Referring to the issue of the sale of State assets, the Limerick deputy said it has to be questioned why the remaining shareholding in the airline is now being viewed as a non-strategic State asset. “In my part of the country, Limerick and the Mid West, we regard the potential loss of the Heathrow landing slots as critical.
“We have had enough of the flowery sympathetic speeches – we want the government to use its clout on the Board of the Company and insist that the Shannon-Heathrow route is maintained.
“Jan O’Sullivan is now in Government and I want to hold her, her party and the Fine Gael Party to their word. We need to maintain the Heathrow route for connectivity in the Mid West and in order to keep our region’s competitive edge, we need to keep the Shannon to Heathrow route and the only way to keep it is by maintaining our 25% shareholding in Aer Lingus”.
Deputy Collins questioned the Minister for Public Expenditure in the Dail on why he is now rubbishing the importance of the Heathrow slots, and why the Labour Party appears to have changed its position,
“A few years ago when his party was in opposition it nearly brought the House down over the closure of the Shannon to Heathrow route, with which I agreed, because it was critical.
“I was glad that the then Government worked hard and put in board members, when they did not have them previously, and restored the Shannon to Heathrow route.
“It is incumbent on the Minister to acknowledge that the Shannon to Heathrow route is a critical strategic State asset for the Mid West region”.
Deputy Collins appealed to Minister Brendan Howlin to “see sense on this issue” and expressed his disappointment at the change of heart of the Labour Party.
