Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I am not criticising the Minister. I am stating we need to fast-track development to ensure a soft landing for the west. A need for investment in tourism and jobs in the west if the status of Shannon was undermined was signalled for a long time. However, we still have the Minister announcing he will prepare a plan and that his Department will finalise it. It is hoped he will do so quickly within the coming weeks so the workers and people in Shannon can benefit from the open skies agreement in the same way as Dublin and the east coast. The agreement has been applauded by many and it is up to the Minister to prove wrong those who state the area will experience a down turn. I believe he can do so through the proposed plan.

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