A US Republican Party Congressman has called for an economic assessment of the value of the Shannon stopover before any decision is taken on its future.
US Congressman Christopher Smith, intends to present a draft bill next week which will propose that such an assessment be conducted on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr Smith outlined the details of the bill when he met political, business and trade union representatives in Shannon and Galway yesterday.
The congressman spent the past three days in Ireland at the invitation of Independent Connacht-Ulster MEP, Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon. "I really don't think the Government here realises the importance of this lifeline to the west," Ms Scallon said of the Shannon stopover, when she expressed support for the congressman's efforts.
Mr Smith has spearheaded efforts in the US Congress to increase the US financial commitment to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI). The IFI had created jobs, revitalised towns and regions and united peoples of different religions, he said.
"However, I would hate to see some of this positive work in the northwest being hit by a decision to abolish the Shannon stopover, without any proper research of its effects," he said.
"I am all for privatisation, including privatisation of Aer Lingus, but I do not support a decision which could have serious implications for thousands of people in Ireland and the US," he said.
Under the EU's open skies policy, the Shannon stopover will have to be phased out, and the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, has held discussions in the US on the issue. Currently, every transatlantic flight to Dublin has to have a corresponding flight to Shannon, and Aer Lingus is permitted to fly into five US airports.
Earlier this month, the Fianna Fáil Connacht-Ulster MEP, Mr Seán Ó Neachtain, said he had received an assurance from Mr Ludolf Van Hasselt, head of the European Commission's unit on air transport agreements, that the European Commission would not insist the stopover be abolished.