Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

It is what the region will need. Companies in the region will be producing medical devices and refrigerated units, yet the Government has turned a blind eye to the Lynx project which would assist in exporting these products. As well as cargo preclearance, we need full preclearance for the corporate jet sector.

The Dublin Airport Authority is spending €1.2 billion on the development of its second terminal at Dublin Airport. Last week's Sunday Independent reported that the authority spent €850,000 on consultants to advise the Minister which company should operate T2. Surely some of that money we need for job creation in the mid-west could be diverted to Shannon Airport. Will the Minister of State give this authority money to the mid-west?

Our region will die unless the Government gets involved. Over 50 years ago, the late Dr. Brendan O'Regan came knocking on the Government's door for money to support his initiatives in Shannon Airport and the region. Today, Mr. Denis Brosnan is knocking on the door seeking support for his recommendations but, unfortunately, the Government is silent on the issue. We want action quickly. The buck lies with the Minister of State and his Government colleagues. I urge them to stand up and deliver on these task force recommendations instead of leaving them on the shelf gathering dust.

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