Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following the interventions of Deputies Carey, Dooley, the Chairman and iar-sheanadóir Ó Céidigh, we are ready to rock and roll. I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom fíorfháilte a chur roimh Phádraig Ó Céidigh. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis agus tá mo thacaíocht iomlán go mór aige mar chathaoirleach nua den bhord Shannon Airport. If an advertisement for the power of experience and the benefit of conducting hearings with potential chairmen is needed, then this morning's meeting is an example that should be shown across the Oireachtas. Mr. Ó Céidigh comes to the position with a vast tome of experience. I am a bit biased on one level because I have fond regard for Mr. Ó Céidigh. He is a person of huge experience and ability and will guide the board of Shannon Airport well. I say that as a partisan Cork person who always advocates for Cork Airport. I am very much taken by his remarks earlier about working together and not having a race to the bottom. I really hope we do not do that.

It would be remiss of me not to ask a couple of questions. It is important for this committee to affirm and support Mr. Ó Céidigh in his new role. Mr. Ó Céidigh made reference earlier to Shannon Airport being a junior partner. We have had an issue with the separation of various airports from the DAA. There was a debate about Cork in the past. Shannon split from the DAA in 2013. Does Mr. Ó Céidigh think that was a good idea? Has it worked for Shannon? I ask that in the context of the questions posed by Deputies Dooley and Carey regarding passenger numbers which plummeted long before Covid was an issue. The airport has not met its passenger number targets at all since the separation in 2013. Has that separation been a success for Shannon Airport?