Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We absolutely support that.

I come from Clare, and Shannon Airport is my airport of choice. I can see the aggressive approach of the Dublin Airport Authority to all the other airports in the country, to the extent that it receives 87% of all the traffic. That is the underlying problem. Even when Adare Manor was selected to be the host of the Ryder Cup in a couple of years time, the first step the Dublin Airport Authority took was to state online that Dublin Airport would be the local airport for anyone flying in for the tournament. That is so disingenuous but it shows the attitude and the predatory approach of the Dublin Airport Authority to receiving passengers. I think our guests have a brass neck in that they are looking to Shannon Airport and Cork Airport to bail them out with security staff from those airports to ensure Dublin Airport will keep going. It is very hypocrtical of them.

It is not really an issue for our guests, but national aviation policy needs to change to rebalance that whole equation. Dublin Airport was not able to cope with the masses trying to lift off from it last weekend. The DAA was not able to cope or to manage the situation, which got out of control. We are a small island with five airports - one on the east coast and four in the west. Basically, Dublin Airport has 87% of the traffic, while the rest of the airports have 13% and are scrapping over the crumbs. Would our guests support a change in national aviation policy to the benefit of the country as a whole? If that pie was distributed more evenly, Dublin Airport would be able to cope and the DAA would not be scrambling for personnel, trying to hold onto them and to avoid them becoming burnt out. There would not be queues starting to form at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. If it was spread out, passengers could be catered for at Shannon Airport, Cork Airport and the other airports.