The Government has received no submission on Shannon Airport being run as an independent entity, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, said yesterday. She was welcoming the first Aer Lingus scheduled Baltimore-to-Ireland flight at the Co Clare airport.

Ms O'Rourke said it was Government policy for Aer Rianta to continue as airport managers and there was no point talking about an alternative structure if she had no submission on it.

Local interests, including Shannon Development, TDs and the Mid-West Business Community Group, have supported calls for the airport to be managed independently.