Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I listened carefully to what Mr. Walsh said on RTE radio this morning about developing transatlantic passengers and transit passengers into Heathrow. It seemed clear to me that he intends to develop a hub in Ireland, which is good news. However, he also said something contradictory earlier today. He said most countries have one hub and most businesses would be crazy to give a guarantee to one service provider of all of their work, regardless of cost and quality. Since Mr. Walsh was at this committee last, one of the things that has not happened is that a cargo hub has not been developed at Shannon Airport. One of the things that has happened is that Shannon Airport is a 24-hour international airport which is State-owned but is in a position to compete with the Dublin Airport Authority.

I appreciate Mr. Walsh does not want to talk about Shannon specifically but I do. He is here on behalf of his board and shareholders. I am here on behalf of my constituents. Does Mr. Walsh envisage that a cargo hub could or would be developed at Shannon? Does he envisage that a hub could or would be developed at Shannon? Could a hub realistically be developed in five years, given Mr Walsh’s suggestion that he might guarantee five years? Will he look at connectivity from Shannon to European hubs other than Heathrow because, unfortunately, that has not been arrived at by the new board and management at Shannon Airport?