Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I am not asking Mr. Henry to comment, in my view sight was lost. Figures were presented to this committee and to the public about how great the group was doing. It was just being presented as a block and an entity. Of course, employment came to the region because Shannon Group built factories. However, that was because IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland went after them. That is where the credit goes in that regard. We were getting a rehash of that about how great things were going. Anyway, we will not go back there. Let us be positive. Let us learn from that mistake. As was always the case, Mr. Henry will have a friend here in supporting the initiative. I am motivated by the region that I have had the privilege to represent.

I am motivated by driving activity through the airport. The rest of the business is self-sustaining, based on the way it was constructed from the start. What has deteriorated, sadly, is a focus on driving more business through the airport. It is not easy, to be honest, if passenger numbers drop. There was some good work done. Reaching out to Norwegian Air did not happen. Other things have fallen through the cracks and that needs to be addressed. Mr. Henry need to get his head around that and understand. Mary Considine and others will know what is needed. We will not be found wanting as a group of Oireachtas Members. Through Deputy Carey we have ongoing engagement with management and the board and we will continue that. When Mr. Henry has figured out what he wants, he should come calling. We will not be afraid to challenge our party leaders, Ministers and so on. Until we know what he wants in order to assist in the growth of that connectivity, less is more. We do not want to overplay the profit and loss piece.