Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I noted Mr. O'Leary's comments on the aspirations of Ryanair to continue to develop the short-haul sector and that Ireland represents 8% of the company's overall dynamic at the moment. With respect to Waterford Airport expansion, of which I have obviously been a strong supporter, I note his comments. I do not think it is helpful at this time to have a debate about where the funding for that is going to come. Private investment will happen and there is a lot of diligence and business analysis going on there and I think it will come down to a commercial proposition in the future obviously. I will say there are many people who have been speaking about the dysfunction of the DAA airports. They have spoken and we have been listening. This will not be a DAA-managed airport. There will be opportunities and I hope Ryanair will come back to the base from where it started its absolutely fantastic rise.

I will mention the issue of the European regulation because this is really at the heart of where the committee needs to be as well. Mr. O'Leary has stated that overflights cannot happen during a strike situation and he has outlined how this impacted the airline this year. Also mentioned was the inability of the EU to look at designating the upper and lower airspaces for direct flights, how that would impact on fuel usage and having a homogenous air traffic control platform or system. The question I am asking as an Oireachtas Member and maybe as an add-on member to this committee today, is how Oireachtas Members can pressure the EU in this situation. Mr. O'Leary has spoken about vested interests and the political lobbies that do not want that to happen but how can we as legislators push that agenda?

I have one more thing to ask him after that.