Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Walsh and Mr. Griffin for appearing before the committee. I refer back to the cast iron embedded in concrete guarantee because there is still an unanswered question. The committee's narrative will be that Shannon and Cork airports continue to face a question mark over connectivity. For the benefit of trying to push this forward, could Mr. Walsh give a commitment that this connectivity will continue? I am from the Shannon region in the mid-west. Is he open to considering an extension of the timeframe for the slots? Five years is the offer on the table. Would he be open to considering an extension to, for instance, ten or 15 years in that offer? If one looks at this from our point of view and from the shareholders' point of view, a leap of faith is being sought in respect of the State's stake and there is uncertainty. From a policy point of view in the context of delivery into the regions, there is a temptation in the media narrative, especially on the part of the national broadcaster, to focus on Dublin Airport and that was the main thrust of what I heard this morning. From the rest of the country's point of view and from the Government's point of view, Mr. Walsh would do himself a great deal of service if certainty could be provided regarding Cork and Shannon airports and if consideration could be given to a longer timeframe than what is proposed because it is a considerable leap.

How is Ryanair responding to IAG's offer? Is the company amenable to the proposal?

Reference was made by one of the participants at the stakeholders' meetings to the impact BA had in Scotland. I will paraphrase what was said but in his role as CEO, Mr. Walsh may be able to enlighten the committee. The suggestion was made at a previous committee meeting that Scotland has been forgotten about, it is an outlier and it gets bog standard service. The concern was expressed to the committee that Aer Lingus would become an outlier of BA with a bog standard service.

Mr. Walsh mentioned one of the contributors at the last meeting. Another contributor referenced Dublin Airport's capacity to deal with what IAG envisages, which would be good for the country in the context of a transatlantic hub, but he called the airport a shopping centre on a runway because of the difficulties associated with taxiing, the apron and so on. How will that be resolved?