Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

No, it is not the only reason. Shannon Development will have no role to help indigenous companies. That role is reverting to Enterprise Ireland which will operate from the region, so Shannon Development will not be dealing with companies. Both Cork and Dublin airports have industrial development parks, which is not unusual. Aer Rianta has serious problems and even if it were to remain intact, those problems could no longer be masked. We need three vibrant airports competing with each other, doing deals with airlines, getting passengers in and opening up more access routes. We must keep an open mind about how the State organises its activities to bring about the most vibrant and dynamic set of circumstances in the region in so far as the State can do so. Shannon Development has played a crucial role in the development of the mid-west region and there is no doubt about that.

It is true, as Deputy Howlin said, that no other region has done as well as Shannon. There is no other regional authority equivalent to Shannon Development. We all know the history of how and why it was established.

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