Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Walsh. I will pick up on one of those themes.

The area I want to focus on is the Irish landscape as a whole. Realising the potential of Dublin Airport as a hub picks up on that point of the need for capital investment at a time when it is not entirely sure what funds will be available in the medium term with regard to the decisions around charges. Would it be perceived among the Air Travel Association's members that there is a need for capital investment in Dublin Airport and that it should happen in a timely fashion? What are the potential implications if it does not happen? Mr. Walsh might comment on Dublin as a hub.

A related issue that comes up consistently at this committee is the challenge of regional balance and the dominance of Dublin compared with other regional and international airports we have in the State. Can Mr. Walsh reflect on the types of considerations that Government, in the first instance, and individual airports should be making at this time as we enter into a period of policy review?