"The Irish Government can apply for a Public Service Obligation (PSO) on the Shannon- Heathrow route if they secure agreement from the UK Government and if they can make the argument that it falls under Article 4 of the Council regulation No 2408/92." This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin following a meeting with the EU Commission in Brussels on Wednesday, 7th November 2007.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Shannon Region, Marian Harkin MEP and was organised by Kathy Sinnott MEP.

The particular European Regulation states that ‘A member state, following consultations with the other Member States concerned and after having informed the Commission and air carriers operating on the route, may impose a public service obligation in respect of scheduled air services to an airport serving a peripheral or development region in its territory...any such route being considered vital for the economic development of the region in which the airport is located...’ 

Marian Harkin continued; “It is clear from this that there is a real argument to be made by the Irish Government to the Commission to allow them to impose a Public Service Obligation on the Shannon Heathrow route. The role of the European Commission on this will be to act only if there are any problems with the application or objections by third parties”.

“It was emphasised at the meeting that the connectivity argument was a very important part of the case in seeking a P.S.O. and if there is a P.S.O. on the Shannon Heathrow route then the Government can reserve slots for the P.S.O. All of this of course has to be in conjunction with the UK Government.

"The Shannon Region has nothing to lose and has the potential to regain connectivity with Heathrow - the Government must act immediately" Marian Harkin concluded.