Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I welcome Mr. Thompstone and Ms Elaina Fitzgerald Kane from the Irish Hotels Federation. Like other members from the Clare and Limerick region, I have had a lot of engagement with the Shannon Chamber around this proposal, which I believe is a very strong proposal. It is evidence based and a lot of work has gone into it. I welcome that it is a collaborative approach between the Irish Hotels Federation and the chambers of commerce at Shannon, Ennis, Limerick and Galway. It is a strong combined effort. I propose that this committee would endorse the proposal in full and that we would put our whole weight behind it as a committee to recommend to Government that it adopts this approach. There have been some lifesaving measures provided by the Government in supports but we need a pathway forward and we need to ensure that it is a multiannual approach. There is a strong emphasis on multiannual in this report, be it capital expenditure funding or incentives around passengers and marketing. Shannon Airport is so important to the mid-west and the western region and to all the hospitality and businesses that need this vital connectivity. I want to emphasise that point. Will Mr. Thompstone please explain how important the Heathrow route is to Shannon and to the mid-west, and especially for business connectivity?