Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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On that point, there is precedent in a number of areas where, on occasion, a State board, through the decision of a Minister or the Government, has upgraded the position of chair to that of executive chair for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it might be based on the departure of management, which is not the case in this instance. We have a fantastic CEO but the scale of the challenge in terms of the recovery from Covid necessitates some positive discrimination towards Shannon Airport. The challenge Mr. Ó Céidigh faces is enormous. He has outlined the difficulties, and he needs all hands on deck. Normally, the role of chairman is somewhat hands-off in nature. There is a board meeting once a month for a company that is progressing in a normal environment involved in corporate governance and all the standard things. This is a roll-up-the-sleeves, hands-on-deck scenario for everybody. Mr. Ó Céidigh has indicated a willingness and a capacity to work outside of Shannon, to travel and meet with airlines, chief executives and players in the industry. That requires a significant time commitment. In that context, I would be more than happy to second the proposal put forward by Deputy Carey. Maybe we could write to the Minister about it. I do not think it in any way takes from what was advertised because that was then and this is now. That process was opened up a long time ago, long before the State realised the consequences for the aviation sector as a result of Covid. The previous chairman's role ended a long time ago so there has been a process in place for a long time but there is justification for doing this, looking at all the concerns.

The one key issue that remains is the notion of separation. I was probably a lone voice against separation at the time because I felt that Shannon Airport would never be able to compete effectively. Separation was sold on the basis that a leaner, fitter Shannon could challenge Dublin. Truthfully, that did not materialise and, based on what Mr. Ó Céidigh has said, it is never really going to happen. It is about working with Dublin. Overall aviation policy and bringing back a national airport authority would be my favoured long-term ambition. That worked well, as it does with CIÉ, where there are three companies all under the CIÉ umbrella but working independently with some level of competitive tension. In the current climate, we must work with Dublin and Cork airports. It will take somebody like Mr. Ó Céidigh, who understands that relationship and sees the potential there, to do that. It goes back to what Deputy McNamara raised about the fifth freedom flights and potentially cargo flights. I welcome Mr. Ó Céidigh's approach to reaching out to Dublin Airport and having a collaborative environment rather than a competitive tension. That is the way to go.