Sinn Féin call on EU to loosen state aid rules for Knock and other regional airports Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has contacted the European Commission seeking a possible exemption from State Aid rules for regional airports such as Ireland West Airport Knock. State Aid rules limit the amount of state subsidies that can be given to a particular company or sector. MacManus, the Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands Northwest believes a “total exemption from these rules is necessary for Ireland’s regional airports due to the devastating effects of Covid on the aviation sector. Currently only 75% of investment aid can be covered under the rules.”