Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----and for the west. I know what a champion of the west he has always been.

I want to raise an issue with him that has been referenced by a few colleagues. When he said we have to wear the same jersey, he was right. I agree with him. When he said we must avoid a race to the bottom, he is spot on. The difficulty is that under the current structure Shannon is not wearing the same jersey. It is a wearing a different jersey from the jerseys of Dublin and Cork. Is it realistic on an island this small to pit Shannon in direct competition with Dublin and Cork? I will cite the most stark example of that. Following the separation of Shannon Airport, the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA. moved its shared services centre, which was based in Shannon, because it did not want to give revenue to a competitor. That is how stark it is. I am pleased Dalton Philips has wished Mr. Ó Céidigh well and I do not doubt his sincerity in that regard. However, the current structure pits Shannon against Dublin as a competitor. I know from talking to the workers in Shannon Airport and having linked in particularly with the trade union representatives, who are passionate about Shannon, that they are very clear about the fact that the separation has failed. It is an issue that will have to be tackled. With all the good intentions we have, and the fact there was a united call from the Oireachtas transport committee for a new national airport authority, this is the key issue that must be tackled because unfortunately the current structure puts Shannon in competition with Dublin.

Does Mr. Ó Céidigh see that as a problem?