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Government needs to use influence on Shannon decision E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
One of the debates that dominated the 2007 General Election campaign in the West this year was the apparent poor development of the West in contrast to the development in the East of the country. Figures and statistics were thrown back and forth about Government spends, the roll out of major projects such as BreastCheck, poor road infrastructure, transport etc with many anti-‘same-againers’ saying that the people of the West finally had to stand up against the lopsided approach and demand equality.

Despite their strong arguments, the anti-sameagainers lost out and the country voted to return to power those who they felt were leading them in the right direction. If not there, we believed they were getting there.

However, the recent announcement by Aer Lingus that is to cease its Shannon to Heathrow flights from January next year will have soured people in the West’s opinion somewhat. While the Transport Minister has been quick to distance himself from what he calls a ‘commercial’ decision, there are few in the West who will look anywhere else to lay blame.

Minister Dempsey’s assertion that the Government cannot get involved in a commercial decision, despite being a major shareholder, will seem to many of the Government again washing its hands of the problems facing the West. Following the privatisation of Aer Lingus, the government may not be able to intervene in what this commercial venture does, but surely there is nothing stopping it using its influence to campaign on behalf of the region.

Businesses in the West are cognisant of the fact that a commercial venture must go where the greatest profit is. Any business venture would do the same. However, when a move has such a knock-on effect for a region, there should be some conversation with other businesses and shareholders in the region to discuss options. 

Most people in the south will be happy to see investment in Belfast but not at the cost of Shannon. It’s hard to see why the move has to be an either or situation, especially immediately. One letter writer to the Irish Times last week asked why the airline could not look at some kind of share system: Shannon giving up one of its Heathrow slots, Dublin another. This may not be the answer but there must, at least, be some debate.


 


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