The Government has been attacked by its own TDs for failing to respond to the decision of Aer Lingus to transfer its Heathrow slots from Shannon airport to Belfast.
Clare Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley said last night that the Government's continuing silence had heightened the sense of alarm across the midwest. His comments followed critical remarks from a number of other Fianna Fáil TDs in the region, including Minister of State Tony Killeen and two Limerick TDs, Peter Power and Niall Collins.
Mr Dooley said that having briefed members of the Cabinet about the gravity of the situation, he had expected a structured response. "However, four days into this crisis, no response has emerged and I find it regrettable that the only comment so far from Government has come from a Government spokesperson.
"I have made the Government aware in no uncertain terms as to the disastrous impact this will have on employment in the region," Mr Dooley added. "I'm surprised by the lack of response to the seriousness of this situation."
The Opposition refused to accept Mr Killeen's claim that the Government was not made aware of the Aer Lingus decision in advance.
Limerick Labour TD Jan O'Sullivan asked: "Is the Government seriously asking us to believe that although the Government remains a major shareholder in the company, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, were not told of their plans in advance by Aer Lingus but that Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness were?"
Fine Gael transport spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell and enterprise spokesman Phil Hogan demanded to know how much advance information the Government had and why the entire Cabinet had been silent on this issue.
Sources close to Aer Lingus said the airline had briefed Mr Dempsey on its plans for Shannon at a function in Dublin city centre last Friday.
Aer Lingus said it would not reverse its decision, despite the growing political storm and warnings from business groups that it could lead to significant job losses in the midwest and withdrawal of planned investment.
Limerick County Council yesterday said that up to 10,000 jobs in 28 multinational companies were at risk, while the employers' group Ibec said about 20 companies in the midwest had warned that their viability was at risk.
The board of the Shannon Airport Authority is to hold an emergency meeting this morning in response to the Aer Lingus decision. This is to be followed by a meeting of regional business, tourism and community leaders, convened by Shannon Development.
Trade unions and employers' representatives will also attend.