Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

The open skies agreement has been applauded by the Dublin business community in particular because it will bring about the end of the protectionist policy of the Shannon stopover. I and my party have serious concerns regarding the possible implications of the agreement, particularly as regards the west.

Despite people's criticising it, the protectionist policy to which I refer successfully led to extensive development in the region and helped create more than 12,000 decent jobs there. It also encouraged quite an amount of foreign direct investment in Limerick city and surrounding counties. It helped the University of Limerick in the context of the industrial research and development that has taken place on its campus.

Shannon Airport is a vital item of infrastructure in the mid-west and thousands of jobs are indirectly dependent on its future viability. When the Minister broke the airport authority into three separate authorities at Dublin, Cork and Shannon, we argued that it was wrong to do so and that it had the potential to undermine Shannon's future viability. The open skies agreement has similar potential. We need to hear a great deal more about the Minister's supposed intention to prepare an economic and tourism development plan for Shannon. That should have been announced ahead of any other announcement regardless of whether it was a transitional arrangement. The money should have been signalled ahead of schedule. The Signal group in Shannon highlighted the need to put in place this €53 million fund to help compensate Shannon for the loss of income from the tourism trade and on foot of the potential pull-out of business interests as a result of fewer flights to the airport. A concern also exists that in the future transatlantic air traffic will concentrate on large carriers to Dublin city to the detriment of the west. It is a major challenge for Shannon Airport. Many believe the open skies policy will signal the death knell for Shannon Airport. It is up to the Minister and the Government to prove them wrong. This can happen but only if the development plan and compensation for the area are fast-tracked and the preparations are made. Marketing of Shannon and the west as a tourism area must also be increased substantially so it is made more attractive for tourists to seek flights directly to Shannon and to ensure the west is opened up.

This does not only involve Shannon Airport. The west must be opened up in terms of infrastructure. I concur with what Deputy Eamon Ryan stated previously with regard to a high-speed rail network. Even a simple matter such as the dual carriageway between Ennis and Galway has not been started even though it is long promised.

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