Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

That kind of smart response does not help anybody. There are people who are extremely concerned that airports in the west are going to be obliged to close as a result of the Minister's announcement last week. I have also met representatives from most of the regional airports. I accept that these airports made representations to the Minister in the context of justifying their existence. However, that is not the same as consulting someone before shutting off their revenue source. Since I became my party's spokesperson on transport, the Minister provided a commitment to me to the effect that a debate would take place in the House in respect of regional airports and their future and the PSO levy and its role regarding the future viability of such airports. The Minister has decided to ignore that commitment and simply announce a reduction in funding from July onwards. Why did the Minister not publish the report and then engage in a debate - which would have been broad in nature and which would have focused on regional policy and the role of airports therein - on it within the House before making his decision?

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