Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I am sure the Minister agrees that Shannon Airport is critical to the future of both the Shannon region and the western seaboard. The Minister is aware that 70% of all transatlantic traffic drops off in Shannon. It is estimated by the Shannon marketing group that Shannon will lose at least 100,000 transatlantic tourists per year and I do not have to remind the Minister that at least 68% of all tourists disembarking from Shannon end up in County Kerry. The issue has major implications for that county as well.

Some 50% of US companies and investment is located in the Shannon region and the Shannon free zone has one of the biggest industrial parks in the country. One of the reasons US companies located in and around Shannon was the airport. There is a distinct possibility that we could lose this type of investment, which would be another major blow to the region. We could lose tourists and jobs.

The Minister is aware of the case of Prestwick Airport in Scotland. It was a refuelling stop, but due to improvements in airline technology, that stop became unnecessary. The airport is under significant pressure to survive and I hope the same does not occur at Shannon Airport.

Between 1999 and 2003, tourism lost approximately 3 million bed-nights along the western seaboard. As the Minister knows, there have been a number of closures. Unless more visitors go the area, there will be further closures. The Minister mentioned a few plans. The three reports in the past three years on Shannon Airport with which I am familiar suggested that if the bilateral agreement came about, a plan should be put in place immediately so that Tourism Ireland or another body could enter the source market to ensure business is found for the airport. On the same day Aer Lingus announced its commitment to retain its 400,000 seats, it announced three new American destinations — Orlando, Detroit and Washington — from Dublin.

This is an important issue. The Minister does not agree with the Irish Hotels Federation that a major marketing plan must be put in place, but I will warn him that this matter will have significant implications for our county, the western seaboard and the Shannon region. Will he be more specific concerning what strategy is in place to ensure the survival of Shannon Airport?

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