Released on: January 13, 2008, 5:45 am

Press Release Author: Mark Dunphy/Dunphy PR

Industry: Government

Press Release Summary: County Clare, IRELAND, 13th January 08 - The Mayor of Clare,
Cllr. Patricia McCarthy today said that members of the Government should hang their
heads in shame over the ending of the 60-year air link between Shannon International
Airport and London Heathrow.


Press Release Body: The Mayor said that the Government had shown complete disregard
for the economic development and future viability of commerce in the West of
Ireland. She stated that it had done little to prevent Aer Lingus from axing the
route and had failed to secure a replacement airline to service the route.

Cllr. McCarthy commented, “The Minister for Transport and his Cabinet colleagues
should hang their heads in shame today.”

She continued, “It is now evident that the Government failed miserably to act and
deliver on the guarantees given in its IPO document to have permanent and quality
connectivity from Shannon to London Heathrow. The Government has also failed to
realise 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.”

Mayor McCarthy added that her views on the removal of flights between Shannon and
Heathrow had not altered since Aer Lingus’s announcement last August.

“I believe that the decision to relocate the slots to Belfast International Airport
is one that will backfire on Aer Lingus, an airline that has turned its back on an
airport that played a pivotal role in its development. The airline has sacrificed a
profitable route and will realise this in the coming months and years as it
struggles to make its Belfast to Heathrow route a success”, she indicated.

While welcoming next month’s commencement of scheduled services between Shannon and
Paris Charles De Gaulle, the Mayor said, “Business, political, tourism and community
leaders in the West of Ireland will continue to pursue the absolute need to retain
direct services between Shannon and Heathrow.”

She explained, “The onward connectivity that will be provided by the service between
Shannon and Paris will contribute greatly to the future development of business and
tourism in the wider Shannon Region. It is deeply regrettable, however, that this
improvement in connectivity is at the expense of the critical Shannon Heathrow
service.”

\"Over the years multinational companies have located to the West of Ireland due to
the existence of the Shannon-Heathrow service. Numerous multinationals have stated
such high quality access is irreplaceable and remains key to maintaining their
operations in the Western region, which is why it is imperative that a replacement
airline be found to service the Shannon-Heathrow route \", concluded the Mayor.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
Mayor of Clare Cllr. Patricia McCarthy (087-4187132) is available for interview and
further comment.
For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on
086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Web Site: http://www.dunphypr.com

Contact Details: Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-(0)868534900 (Mobile)
00353-(0)656839692 (Fax)