15/05/2012

Govt Fails To Act To Protect Aer Lingus Jobs In Shannon

Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins has criticised the Government for failing to take any action to protect the Aer Lingus maintenance operation at Shannon Airport.

Deputy Collins has expressed grave concern about the airline’s plans to transfer the lease for its aircraft maintenance function from Shannon to Dublin, with the loss of more than 70 jobs in Dublin.

Deputy Collins met with some of the workers affected. Speaking afterwards, he said: "These people are extremely worried about their jobs as Aer Lingus pushes ahead with plans to dramatically downgrade the operation at Shannon Airport. The uncertainty about their future is extremely distressing for these workers and their families and they feel let down by the Government who have provided them with no support so far.

"We are talking about more than 70 specialised jobs in the Limerick and Clare area. The loss of these jobs will have a tangible impact on the economy of this region. The fact that Aer Lingus is at an ‘advanced stage’ of moving these jobs to Dublin raises serious questions about balanced regional development in this country.

"I am appealing to the Government to show an interest in what is happening here. We should be doing everything in our power to protect these jobs in Shannon and to support the workers in every way we can. Downgrading this operation sends out the wrong signal about the Aer Lingus hub in Shannon and about business development in this region."

(CD)

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