Shannon based Aer Lingus workers yesterday rolled up their sleeves to
heap further pressure on Fianna Fail TDs in Clare and Limerick by
posting 2,500 letters requesting them to stand up and be counted in
the campaign to retain the Airport's Heathrow service.

Cabin crew were busy on the ground as they posted a total of 2,500
signed letters to six TDs, from Clare, Limerick East and Limerick
West, from Shannon based Aer Lingus staff as well as Airport workers.
The letters were dispatched to the Dail offices of Deputies Timmy
Dooley and Tony Killeen, Clare; Deputies John Cregan and Niall
Collins, Limerick West; and Minister Willie O'Dea and Deputy Peter
Power, Limerick East and gave a clear warning that the jobs of staff
in Shannon as well as thousands across the region hinge on this vital
connectivity to Heathrow.

"We don't believe that Government has taken this as seriously as it
should and we are beginning a mail blast campaign to TDs in this area
to make sure they bring pressure to bear so that this is resolved,"
said cabin crew member Maria O'Hanlon.

"We asked every Aer Lingus and Shannon Airport worker to sign these
letters and got a phenomenal response. A lot of people outside the
Mid-West and West have no idea how significant an impact this will
have and the Government seems only now to be waking up to this reality
as well.

"This connectivity has to be maintained and we are expecting the local
TDs to make sure it does. We elected them and it is time they stood
together and delivered on the trust we place in them. If they don't
stand by the region now they have no business representing these
constituencies."

The letter calls on the TD's to make representation to Taoiseach, Mr.
Bertie Ahern, the minister for transport, Noel Dempsey, and the
minister for finance, Mr. Brian Cowen, to retain the Aer Lingus
Shannon/Heathrow air link. The Shannon Action Group is now seeking a
meeting with the 6 Limerick and Clare Fianna Fail TD's at the earliest
opportunity on the matter.

 Dear Mr.  Politician,        

I earnestly urge you at your soonest convenience to make representation to An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, the minister for transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey and the minister for finance, Mr. Brian Cowen, in relation to the recent cavalier decision of the management team at Aer Lingus, to cease operation on the Shannon London – Heathrow route.  As a citizen of Ireland and a resident of the mid west, this thus far unchallenged move will have far reaching consequences for me and my family.  In the secure remove of Dublin, it is understandable how the government ministers have become alienated from the rest of the country, particularly those of us who are located west of the Shannon.

The Shannon London – Heathrow link is intrinsically enmeshed in the infrastructure of the west.  It is as vital as the N7 road and the Iarnrod Eireann rail link to Dublin.    It is our link to the rest of the world.  Without this link, we will eventually become an unemployment blackspot where prosperity will be a thing of the past

Every hour of every day that passes while we await the reversal of this inexplicable business decision compromises the region and casts a shadow of doubt over our ability to grow the indigenous commerce of the region.  It is incumbent upon you, my democratically elected representative, to canvas the above mentioned deputies, so that my belief in the integrity of the government and its ability to govern may be restored.

Yours Sincerely.