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

We have finished with the committee members. I will go to Deputy McNamara in a moment. It is a five-year term, which I welcome. The role of a board is to make strategic decisions about the way the group evolves, which are then implemented by management. Management does a very good job on that. We have to be honest here. There would be a perception that over the last number of years, pre pandemic, the property side of the Shannon Group had become the main focus, as distinct from aviation. That is just the perception and we have to be honest about that. The group was there to ensure the airport could function as an independent body. That is the missing ingredient. Mr. Henry spoke about being a driver of the region and the group. The airport is a significant key driver for the entire western region. I have a few quick questions. Everyone is coming to the consensus that an urgent review needs to be commenced on the national aviation strategy, not only for Shannon Airport but for the likes of Cork Airport and other airports. As incoming chair of the Shannon Group, I ask Mr. Henry to go through what he believes are the short, medium and long-term challenges facing the airport. What policy initiatives does he see the board taking with regard to linking with Galway, Limerick and even Cork over that period? What are the challenges and opportunities for the airport to grow? From a strategic viewpoint there would have been a view that the group was very successful on property. Mr. Henry said it himself. Over the last number of years Dublin Airport increased its share of the market by 12% to 13% while Shannon and Cork's fell back by the same amount. Those are the facts. I ask Mr. Henry for an overview on that.