This article is from page 31 of the 2006-09-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
CLARE Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen has vowed to hold the Taoiseach to account when the Dáil resumes tomorrow (Wednesday) over comments he made in an interview on local radio last week in which he described the closure of Shannon Airport’s only public bar as “petty.”
Deputy Breen was speaking following last Thursdays interview on Clare FM when Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that the closure of any service at Shannon should not have anything to do with the airport’s ongoing development.
“Obviously if you have more people you require more services. If there is something petty like that going through I am sure I will hear about it during the day,” the Taoiseach said.
Earlier this month, Shannon Airport confirmed the closure of the airports only public bar “until further notice”. The Shannon Airport Authority said, “The airport has begun to implement a policy of non-replacement of seasonal staff in response to its ongoing financial difficulties. As a consequence, it will not be possible for the foreseeable future to continue operating all the current catering services in the terminal.”
Deputy Pat Breen says he will hold the Taoiseach to account over his comment on the cost-cutting measures being introduced throughout Shannon Airport when the Dáil resumes this week.
“The Taoiseach will attempt to wash his hands of the swingeing cuts taking place at Shannon just as he has with the HSE. The truth is that he heads up the Government, the sole shareholder of the Dublin Airport Authority, and must take responsibility for the savage policies being implemented to reduce the Airport cost base.”
Deputy Breen said that he has met airport workers who informed him that staff numbers were being run down in preparation for the outsourcing of food and drink facilities and critical services at the airport.
“The closure of the Marsh Point and the reduced hours for the Londis shop are the tip of the iceberg. Staff are bracing themselves for the curtailing of opening hours at other profit making ventures such as the Estuary Restaurant and the Duty Free Shop. There is also a clear attempt to shut down the Shannon InFlight catering operation by letting seasonal staff go and keeping airport operational costs artificially high through paying of overtime instead of hiring and keeping the extra staff needed,” Deputy Breen said. MINISTER for Transport, Martin Cullen TD will be at Athenry Station at noon today (Tuesday) to announce the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor, Phase 1, Ennis – Athenry. The line has been disused for passenger services for the last 30 years. Funded under the government’s transport initiative, Transport 21, this historic announcement will see a major investment into public transport for the west of Ireland.