Tony Mulcahy (Fine Gael)
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I agree and have promoted the idea that the interests of employees should always be protected 100%. There was never a doubt about that. Let me give a little history of the estate and put on record the fact that 25,000 people used to work there but 3,500 jobs have been lost over the past ten years due to bad management.

Examining airport numbers is going in the wrong direction. Without question, we want to grow the number but we must also examine the industrial base which is a key component of the new model. I shall do all in my power to ensure the units are filled. There are a couple of projects on the go on which we are working very closely with Mr. Neil Pakey. The aim is not to take away from workers but to give them more to do. We must fill the base to ensure there are jobs in the future. That aim is what drives me. I have lived in Shannon for 34 years and ran a business there for 20 years or so. Two years ago I lost the business because one of the companies pulled out, but we have rebuilt the business and increased staff numbers from three part-time to six full-time employees. I have a passion for the town of Shannon, the industrial estate and the airport and I can assure the committee that local people share the same passion.

I have no issue with employee rights. They must be protected. Our job is to ensure employees have plenty of work in future and I can assure the delegations that is what we will do. There are a couple of projects on the go that will help the organisation of Mr. Neil Pakey, Ms Downes, Mr. Thompstone and Mr. Tom Coughlan. We must wait and see what pans out over the next year. One could not leave the estate the way that it was because it was not working.