Mr. Hassard Stacpoole:

Mr. Logue is correct in the assessment. The great obstacle is the planning process, which was raised in this committee by the chief executive officer of Irish Rail and Mr. Peter Muldoon, who is head of new works. The planning process is the greatest obstacle. In terms of actual delivery, there is a two-year to three-year construction period. The key advantage of plugging in the airport is that one connects it into the whole network. It means one can run trains from Limerick into the airport, potentially. With the Shannon rail link, which we are discussing as well and which has been discussed in this committee, it makes rail more attractive and connected into the whole network. One is not just serving the hinterland of the airport but the whole country.