The Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has said that the Government is not going to use its shareholding in Aer Lingus to call on the company to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting, in relation to its decision to end its Shannon-Heathrow routes.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Dempsey said the Government's focus was on finding replacements on the route.
Aer Lingus has already rejected a call by Ryanair for an EGM.
On this, the Minister said he was not going to collude with a rival of Aer lingus in calling for an EGM and said that there are limits on the rights of shareholders overuling commercial decisions.
On the issue of Aer Lingus refusing Ryanair's request for an EGM, Mr Dempsey said the government would not collude with a rival of Aer Lingus.
He said he would not be distracted by what he referred to as a 'sideshow'.
The Labour Party has said it will table a motion on the issue in the first week of the new Dáil term.
