The Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern said today the Government would oppose any call from Europe to end the stopover at Shannon airport for transatlantic flights.
Mr Ahern told opposition leaders in the Dáil that such a proposal if put forward would be rejected.
He was commenting on reports that the European Commission may demand the ending of the Shannon stopover as part of a total liberalisation of the European aviation industry.
Mr Ahern said a viable plan to save the Aer Lingus airline would get his support, and said details should be available within a week of a blueprint designed to save the maximum number of jobs.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Mrs Mary O’Rourke, said she would be arguing strongly at EU level for a restructuring of the beleaguered airline.
Today's European Commission decision to permit a limited state aid for troubled national airlines was being studied by the Government and there was no immediate response to the move.
Addtional reporting by PA
