Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is a point on which I am not sure anyone has touched. I was in EY a million years ago while training to be an accountant, so I know the company better than many people. To have won those awards and be brought back as a judge says a great deal about Mr. Ó Céidigh's talents and abilities that perhaps many of us do not totally appreciate.

I am speaking as someone who had three west of Ireland grandparents who are unfortunately no longer with us. Equally, though, I am based in Dublin. I am not someone who will say that I do not want Shannon to thrive. Quite the opposite.

If up to 4 million passengers, which is at capacity, wanted to fly out of Shannon Airport rather than Dublin Airport, then it would help the latter as much as the former because many people, particularly in the midlands, automatically think of Dublin Airport. If one lives in Portlaoise or anywhere in the midlands, one is equal distance from Dublin and Shannon Airports. There are car parking charges in Dublin Airport and one must get a bus to get to and from the carparks. One can literally drive straight to Shannon Airport, park one's car and get through security and pre-clearance faster than one will ever get through Dublin Airport. That is always going to be the case as long as Shannon Airport is as small as it is relative to Dublin Airport being as big as it is. Sometimes people forget how convenient Shannon Airport is. I have never flown through Shannon Airport but why would I as I live in Dublin? I have visited Shannon Airport, so I can say I have seen the airport and been inside it. As a committee, or individually, we should visit Shannon Airport but, of course, that would be at the invitation of the chairman-designate.