Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

There is no proposal in Europe about a specific airport. We had to agree a framework with Europe. Europe would prefer if the Government gave no money to regional airports. As the Government disagrees with that point of view, it will continue to support regional airports. The Minister for Finance made available an extra €100 million for the development of regional airports because, spatially and economically, it is important to strengthen the regions.

We have been discussing the matter in Brussels for the past three or four months. We are approaching the end of the discussions and I hope the talks will conclude within the next week when there will be a clear framework to get into the individual discussions with Knock, Waterford and the other regional airports.

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