Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

The Minister is living in cuckoo land. US carriers are increasing their services out of Shannon Airport yet our State airline is not. What will happen when Aer Lingus is privatised? It flies in the face of Government policy by centralising everything in Dublin. It is not operating in the interests of balanced regional development and the Minister is standing by it. In an open skies scenario, carriers will fly to the capital city. That is the record in Europe. In fact, 92% of airlines in Europe fly into capital cities, not regional areas. This will happen in Ireland unless the Minister protects Aer Lingus, Shannon Airport and the people of the mid-west. It is the best area through which to enter Ireland but is not being marketed enough. The Minister is standing by and letting this happen.

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