A Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise insists the Government is working to ensure that employment in the Shannon region is protected.
It follows calls from Shannon Chamber and their counterparts in Limerick who fear that not enough is being done to support workers in the wake of Aer Lingus’s decision to permanently close its Shannon base.
It comes as the CEO of Clare County Council has stressed that much more needs to be done to restore confidence for FDI companies in the region.
“The importance of Shannon Airport to regional businesses canno’t be underestimated” – the message from Shannon and Limerick Chambers following a turbulent week.
They say Aer Lingus’s decsion is disappointing for staff, their families and the airport, particularly in light of the company’s plans prior to the pandemic to grow its Shannon base and add new aircraft to its transatlantic routes.
Recommendations to redress the impact of Covid-19 on the aviation sector have already been presented to Government by both the Aviation and Tourism Task Forces and the National Civil Aviation Development Forum.
While more recently Shannon Chamber also outlined their own recommendations in conjunction with the Irish Hotels Federation and with the support of Limerick, Ennis and Galway Chambers.
CEO of Shannon Chamber, Helen Downes is calling on the Government to urgently implement these recommendations, saying a timeline for their roll-out is now critical.
The CEO of the local authority says considerable work is needed by stakeholders in the region to restore confidence in companies providing foreign direct investment in Clare.
Fears continue to be expressed about the future of business connectivity in this county should Aer Lingus push ahead with its decision to close its Shannon Airport base.
IDA Ireland has told Clare FM that it ‘fully supports’ the retention of services that can attract FDI to the region and Clare County Council CEO Pat Dowling says connectivity will be an important part of attracting future investment to this county.
But a Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is reassuring that the Govenment is working to protect employment in the Shannon region.
Robert Troy has reiterated that Government measures aimed at supporting the aviation sector will remain in place and says he takes comfort from Aer Lingus’ committment that there’s “no strategic intent to reduce connectivity” at Shannon.
He says a Regional Enterprise Plan which will include the input of stakeholders within the Midwest will be published by late August or September.
Minister Troy believes it will make a difference.
