Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I particularly welcome Mr. O'Callaghan and Mr. Regan of Cargo Logistics. I have been in contact with them in recent weeks and, through the committee, invited them to attend the meeting. I am delighted to see them here. In the world of cargo, they have always offered solutions and they are now offering an economic solution to what is a real pickle for this country as we face Brexit, with or without a deal, in a matter of weeks.

I have highlighted at the committee in recent weeks that Boston Scientific brings cargo freight to Shannon Airport every day. Each crate is worth approximately €1 million. The freight is made up of high-quality medical components to be shipped around the world. The crates sit 100 m away from perfect aircraft but they are trucked at night all the way down the motorway to Rosslare, brought by ferry to Britain and, ultimately, are loaded onto an aeroplane at Heathrow to make their way around the world. Key opportunities are being lost. What is the value of the air cargo out of Ireland on which we are losing out? Which Irish airport is best positioned in terms of hangar space and runway length to cater for air cargo? It concerns me that air cargo currently only accounts for 1% of all exports leaving Ireland yet its value is extremely high, accounting for 30%.

I have been looking at a few international models. In geographic terms, Luxembourg is probably in a very enviable position at the heart of Europe but it is quite a small nation. Its Government has taken a 56.6% share in Cargolux, ensuring that at all times there is high value and high quantities of air cargo in and out of the country, which keeps the economy afloat. It is also profitable for the Luxembourg Government, with average profits in recent years of approximately €200 million. Regardless of passengers, Brexit or Covid, there will always be a need for cargo crates to be loaded onto aeroplanes and brought around the world. Have the witnesses looked at the Cargolux model? It certainly works well in continental Europe.

I put Cargo Logistics in contact with the Shannon Group. I understand that some of its conversations with the group may be commercially sensitive. What supports is Shannon Group making available? What does Mr. O'Callaghan want the committee to do in terms of getting his message to the Government?