Fianna Fáil Cumann Passes No Confidence Vote In Taoiseach

Western Politicians Slam Government For Inaction

The row over Aer Lingus' decision to cancel its route between Shannon and Heathrow airports exploded on Tuesday when a Fianna Fáil cumann in County Clare voted in favour of a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach.

The vote came shortly after the Taoiseach had ruled out any Government intervention in the controversy.

Speaking for the first time about the affair on Monday, Mr Ahern said the Government would not step intothe dispute, claiming that it was a purely commercial decision by the airline and efforts should be focused on finding another operator to take over the route rather than forcing Aer Lingus to cancel its plans to move from Shannon Airport.

The vote of no confidence, made by the Ennis Number One Cumann accused the Taoiseach of failing to provide political leadership during the "crisis".

It also accused him of failing to protect the social and economic fabric of society in the west of the country.

The no-confidence motion is the first-ever to be passed in the current leadership of Fianna Fáil at any level within the party.

Dempsey Attacked Over "Cavalier Approach"

Clare T.D. and Fianna Fáil backbencher Timmy Dooley launched a harsh attack on the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, T.D. over his "cavalier approach" to the Aer Lingus decision.

Mr Dooley said Minister Dempsey had "shown scant regard for the people of the mid-west" after the Transport Minister confirmed that the Government wouldn't take advantage of its 25% stake in Aer Lingus to try and force an E.G.M. to discuss the pull-out from Shannon.

Kenny Slams The Government

Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny, T.D. broke his silence on the crisis meetings with local Fine Gael TDs and Councillors in Ennis and business and lobby groups in Shannon last week.

Kenny, who had been criticised for his silence on the four-week-long controversy, claimed that Aer Lingus' decision went against long-standing government policy

"This problem was not caused by Fine Gael and we will attempt to hold the Government to account publicly and in the Dáil on its resumption", he said.

Mayors Call For Route's Reinstatement

The Mayors and Managers of eleven cities and counties along the Western Seaboard have demanded that secure permanent and quality connectivity between Shannon Airport and London Heathrow be reinstated.

After an unprecedented gathering in Shannon, the Local Authority Mayors and Chairpersons agreed to fully brief each of their respective Councils on the issue and to use whatever means are available to secure a reversal of the Aer Lingus decision. Speaking after the meeting, the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Patricia McCarthy said that the Aer Lingus move represented an attack on regional development.

She indicated that there is real and genuine concern along the Western Seaboard and beyond at the implications of the Aer Lingus decision to discontinue its Shannon-Heathrow service.

"The level of that impact is indisputable and a detailed business case prepared by the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance sets out in very specific terms the impacts on industry and tourism enterprises in the west of Ireland.

"There was unanimous agreement that the overall grouping should seek to have its deep concerns at the current situation impressed upon the Inter Departmental Group currently finalising a report for consideration by Government," explained the Mayor.

"Following yesterday's cabinet meeting, the Minister for Transport indicated that there was no guarantees in relation to the Aer Lingus slots at the Cork and Dublin Airports," she continued,

"My colleagues here today are under no illusion that this is not just a Shannon issue but has major implications for the entire Country in terms of maintaining critical connectivity to one of the world's busiest Airports."