Clare’s public representatives are insisting that any further financial supports provided to Aer Lingus by the State must only come with the condition that its base at Shannon is protected.
It comes as it’s believed the airline has asked government for further cash injections to ensure it can continue to operate in Ireland when international travel reopens.
Councillors and Oireachtas representatives from this county have been involved in a special meeting to discuss the issue.
A special meeting between Clare’s county councillors and Oireachtas representatives took place today, with the ramifications of Aer Lingus’ decision to permanently close its Shannon base still being discussed.
A number of councillors have expressed concerns the decision will not be reversed, with others suggesting the airport needs to be ‘positively discriminated’ against in the form of future government funding and state subsidies.
It’s understood Aer Lingus is looking for around €150 million in government funding from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, as it’s currently losing over €1.5 million a day.
A cross-party consensus of councillors, senators and TD’s are suggesting that any financial supports should come with caveats.
Clare Fianna Fail Deputy Cathal Crowe, his party’s spokesperson on aviation, says among these conditions should be the protection of the Shannon base.
A Minister of State has told the Seanad in the last hour that the government does expect to be in a position to announce further financial supports for Shannon Airport itself in the near future.
Green Party Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan has told Clare Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway that this will go some way to enabling a recovery in Shannon.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton met Aer Lingus’ CEO last week when the news broke – however, Minister Ryan is being described as having ‘gone missing’ by Clare’s Independent TD.
That meeting was described as ‘open and frank’, with further discussions understood to be planned between the government and the airline.
However, Scarriff-based Independent Deputy Michael McNamara says a full plan for the safe return of aviation is needed as much as state financial supports for airlines.
A government plan on the full return of international travel is set to be made public towards the end of this week.
