The Atlantic Connectivity Alliance has called on the Government to support calls for Aer Lingus to hold an EGM in order to overturn the company's decision to remove its Shannon to Heathrow service.
During face-to-face talks with Mr Dempsey in his Department offices this afternoon, the Alliance called on the Government to initiate a mechanism that will trigger an EGM, a move it says the Government is entitled to do.
Speaking after today's meeting, Chairman of the Alliance Mr. John Brassil confirmed the formal request for the EGM, adding that the Alliance now awaits with interest the response in this regard.
In a statement before the meeting, the Alliance said it was "gravely disappointed and dismayed" at what it called the Government's apparent wish to protect the airline's management over the economic future of the Midwest region.
"We will be making clear our anger and dismay over the Government's stance when we have our first meeting with Minister Dempsey today and we will be demanding that he and the Government revisit this decision and intervene as a matter of urgency," the statement said.
Ryanair yesterday made a fresh bid to force an extraordinary general meeting of Aer Lingus shareholders. Aer Lingus earlier rejected the demands.
Yesterday, the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) backed calls by businesses in the midwest for the retention of direct flights between Shannon and Heathrow.
The IDA intervention comes as a Fianna Fáil cumann in Ennis, Co Clare passed a motion of no confidence in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern over his handling of the decision by Aer Lingus to withdraw the Shannon-Heathrow service.