JULIE O’NEILL will step down as secretary general of the Department of Transport in the next couple of weeks after completing a seven-year term.

Like it or not, she will probably be most remembered for her handling of Aer Lingus’s decision to drop the Shannon-Heathrow route in 2007. That thrust O’Neill and the department into the firing line for the west of Ireland lobby which demanded to know when the department was informed of Aer Lingus’s decision and why it didn’t do more to prevent it.

O’Neill might prefer to reflect on the considerable investment in motorways, rail and other transport infrastructure during her tenure.

A process to find her replacement is under way.

Minister Noel Dempsey will receive a shortlist of candidates before bringing a name to Cabinet for approval.

Whether a successor will be appointed in such a short timeframe remains to be seen.