Discussions on an Ireland-US bilateral air agreement have been authorised to prevent Ireland from being "at the mercy" of the US and EU who might make an arrangement which would not suit Shannon, the Dáil was told.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, insisted the negotiations were aimed at getting "a deal for Shannon" which would allow Aer Lingus "to continue in Shannon", and which would provide the airline with more direct routes to the US.
However, when Mr Pat Breen (FG, Clare) asked him to give a guarantee, particularly in relation to transatlantic flights because they were a core business for Shannon, the Minister said he could not give guarantees.
"There is a commercial world approach here, and I cannot give guarantees about that. Aer Lingus has a commercial mandate. It must make a living. It tells me it is fully committed to Shannon."
Mr Breen said, however, there would be fewer services if fewer people were working for Aer Lingus in Shannon. He added that Aer Lingus was not tendering for extra business in Shannon. "There is no trust now. Workers in Shannon have no faith in Aer Lingus at this moment, and they have no faith in the Minister."
Mr Breen had accused the Minister of not making a special case for Shannon. He also asked: "Is it correct to assume that the proposal by Aer Lingus to ask 50 per cent of its staff to leave is a precursor to Aer Lingus leaving Shannon Airport?"
Mr Brennan said that "Aer Lingus requires additional gateways (direct routes) in the US. We cannot get those under the present bilateral arrangement." This had to be renegotiated, but in the context of US-EU talks this might not take place for years.
"It is critically important that we achieve an understanding with the US so that when that deal between the USA and the EU is completed it will incorporate a clear deal for Shannon Airport that allows Shannon to move forward strongly with Aer Lingus."
He did not believe Aer Lingus had any intentions of exiting Shannon, and the job situation there was partly to do with baggage-handling.
He also told the Dáil he believed amending legislation would now be concluded before the summer to allow for the restructuring of Aer Rianta, and said it was close to completion. He rejected Labour accusations that he had made a "complete and utter hames" of the restructuring.
Labour's spokeswoman Ms Róisín Shortall said the Minister had said last July that he would immediately establish the three boards for the three airports. That had not been done.
"He spoke about having builders on site in Dublin Airport to start the second terminal. There has been no movement on that whatsoever."
