Government Accused Of Aer Lingus Cover-Up

The government has been accused of being involved in a political conspiracy to cover up alleged advance knowledge of Aer Lingus' plans to stop their Shannon-Heathrow service.

A story in today's 'Irish Examiner' alleged that government secretary Dermot McCarthy knew about Aer Lingus' plans on July 27, but did not pass on the details to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, in spite of the fact that a Cabinet meeting was held three days later.

The report said that Mr Ahern was first made aware of the airline's decision on August 3, four days before the news was made public.

Both Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny raised the issue in the Dáil today, but were ruled out of order by Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue.

Mr Gilmore said that it was unbelievable that high-ranking officials knew of the decision in advance, but did not inform either the Cabinet or Transport Minister Noel Dempsey, while Mr Kenny called on both Mr Ahern and Tánaiste Brian Cowen to make statements on when they first became aware of the decision to the Dáil.

However, Tánaiste Brian Cowen rejected the claims made in the report.

(KMcA)