Mr. Willie Walsh:

I thank the Deputy. I will certainly pass on the thanks. I know from talking to both of them that they enjoy interacting with everybody here.

These airports have to be attractive to airlines. There are certain countries which generate attractiveness through incentives to airlines. For example, I was talking to the Minister for tourism in Israel last week. We had a meeting in Istanbul. He was pointing out that what they do during the low season at some of their airports is provide financial incentives to airlines to continue to operate into their airports - as much as $75 per passenger at one airport. They do that because they recognise the value of those passengers to the tourism industry. They have the infrastructure there. It is principally busy at peak times during the year, and to try to create demand through the rest of the year, they provide financial incentives.

I am not suggesting Ireland does that. I am sure the Minister for Finance would have a long list of other things he would want to do but, realistically, what has to be done is to make sure the airport is attractive. Airlines will not be attracted into an airport that has high charges, where the infrastructure is poor or unless they can be clear the services they get at that airport will be consistently of the standard they expect.