Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

While I appreciate it has been almost 12 months since the Government assumed office, as the Deputy will be aware, Shannon Airport has been in limbo since 2008 when a decision was made to defer taking a decision. The period of limbo commenced in 2008 and I intend to end uncertainty about the airport this year.

I appreciate that tourism and employee interests in the region are concerned about Shannon Airport. I have visited the region twice and will do so again in the next few months. I met representatives of trade unions and business and tourism interests and while there is legitimate concern, there is also great ambition and excitement about the opportunities that could be provided as part of a new approach to Shannon Airport. I have been highly impressed by the engagement I have had with interests in the region and the realism they have shown in accepting that things cannot continue as they are. The airport is losing passengers and is in something of a decline. The status quo is not working and substantive change is needed in the way the airport operates.

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