Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are a small island. I am based in Limerick city. Shannon Airport is an international airport. I congratulate Mr. Cullinane on his appointment. I understand he is in situ. Well done.

The committee met previously with Mr. Pádraig Ó Céidigh. As I said, we are a small island. Dublin Airport operates at capacity. We also have an international airport in Shannon Airport. Cork Airport comes under the remit of the DAA as well. What interconnection can take place that benefits Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport, rather than them being competitors? In many European destinations people will commute up to an hour or two to an airport. We do not do that here. My apologies, that is incorrect because it is being done from Dublin. It is more that it has not come to the fore in terms of aviation thinking and overall policy. I would welcome Mr. Geoghegan's views on the relationship between Shannon Airport and the DAA into the future. Shannon Airport is operating at a fraction of its operations pre-Covid. This airport can cater for up to 4.5 million passengers, but it is currently operating at nowhere near that figure. I ask Mr. Geoghegan to put that in context. I know that is an unusual question, but I think it is a very relevant one.