Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate Ms Hynes on her appointment and on her work to date on the project. It is clear that she has a vision and an ambition for the region. I have every confidence that Ms Hynes will make Shannon Airport a success. Something had to happen and I believe this is the best outcome for Shannon Airport and the region.

I have been taken by Ms Hynes's ability to bring people and organisations on board. It is clear that the region and people involved in businesses and tourism welcome what has happened in Shannon and look forward to the project getting under way. I have raised this subject with Ms Hynes in a private capacity. I believe we need to build on what has been done. There should be regional meetings throughout Ireland at which Ms Hynes could outline her vision for the airport and where she sees it going, and to get buy-in from stakeholders and those involved in tourism and business to sell the message about Shannon. This could be done in an international sense as well to get key people involved in the airport.

To build on the progress to date there is a need for reform, and people must support the airport and its endeavours in future. I see a role in this regard for an entity underneath the board. The board should be tight and focused and have people with an appropriate background and knowledge as well as a vision and an ambition for the region. I look forward to the appointment of the board. I am keen to hear Ms Hynes's view on the need for a forum. There should be a set of regional meetings in order that she can outline her vision and the vision of Shannon Airport for the region and, principally, to get buy-in from industry and people in tourism throughout the country, especially those along the western seaboard.

I do not intend to go over ground that has been covered before, but one issue has been raised already. There are questions about the business plan. I believe it is ambitious but achievable. Will Ms Hynes nail down the question and outline to people how it stands up and how it will work? It is clearly achievable for the airport to increase passenger traffic by 1 million in the coming years, and the development of the international aviation services centre is a key part of this. It is a key selling point. It has the capacity to increase the number of jobs and growth in the region. Does Ms Hynes envisage job announcements in the near future from companies that are coming on board?