A Clare TD has voiced his concern about the safety Aer Lingus's Heathrow slots, the retention of which was a vital part of the Government agreeing to sell its 25.1 per cent stake to IAG.
Michael McNamara, who was the only coalition TD to vote against the proposal, said that despite the assurances the British Airways parent group could still replace some Aer Lingus slots at Heathrow.
McNamara, who lost the party whip after voting against the proposed €1.4 billion deal, said he is "very concerned" that Aer Lingus may be forced to hand over its slots at London.
Speaking to RTÉ, McNamara commented: “Long-haul flights out of Heathrow are much more profitable than flights to Dublin, which in turn are much more profitable than flights to Shannon or Cork.”
The European Commission are the last remaining barrier to the deal going through, after Ryanair agreed to sell tis stake last week. The Commission has sought clarity regarding the Heathrow slots, as it would have to comply with competition laws before being greenlit.
