Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The issues have been spelled out well by the two previous speakers. I have also been lobbied by Ireland West Airport Knock. The airport authorities have suggested amendments to the Minister. I have not had a chance to examine the amendments in detail but I am struck by what their tax advisers have said to them regarding this section. They have advised that the section would not benefit Ireland West Airport Knock or those seeking to create enterprise there to any significant degree by comparison with other airports. I refer the Minister back to what we spoke about earlier regarding the IDA, regional development and so forth. This is one of the areas where there may be a knock-on effect, with unintended consequences that could impact negatively on this particular region. Ireland West Airport Knock is not just a Mayo airport. A young girl from my part of the country is going there next week to fly to England to look for a job. It is the airport that a lot of people use in the west. It is important that we do not knock Knock airport, if the Minister will pardon the pun, with this legislation. I ask the Minister to examine the proposals that have been put forward and to indicate that he is open to considering them before the Bill passes.