Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for inviting Mr. Walsh. I also join him in welcoming Councillor Sarah Kiely and the Chairman's other guests from Limerick. In fairness to Councillor Kiely, she has been a very strong advocate for that region, and I thank her for her work and welcome her.

I thank Mr. Walsh for his work. Dublin has a disproportionate share of the Irish aviation sector, and that is a challenge that is upsetting and frustrating to people like me in Cork. I know Mr. Walsh says we can only have one hub. In the context of aviation policy and the review that is forthcoming, how do we change or influence airlines to use Cork or Shannon? I know Mr. Walsh mentioned transatlantic as the Shannon selling point. In the context of Cork, we have seen the debacle this summer at the three airports, as mentioned by Mr. Walsh. That does not look good on international markets or on television or in newspaper coverage. How do we help to influence the Government and the aviation sector, including the airlines, to use places like Cork, as an example?

I thank Peter O'Broin and Simon McNamara in Mr. Walsh's office. They are wonderful people who liaise with us here, including with me personally. I thank them for that.