Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for the question. I will visit Limerick tomorrow and Clare the day after that to speak at a business function which I agreed to do several months ago and, therefore, there will not be any dramatic announcement on Friday that I would not make to the Dáil beforehand.

The position is that the Booz report has gone to Cabinet. It is being considered and has been published in redacted form, which I am sure the Deputy has seen and discussed at this stage. The entire issue involves engagement with various parties including the Department of Public Expenditure, which is a shareholder, and Shannon Development. The future role of Shannon Development is tied up with this and there is an engagement with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on that point. Also, the DAA Group is doing some work on the issues around separation and the barriers that would have to be overcome. It is taking a little longer than I might have hoped but very good progress is being made and it remains my intention to bring a decision in principle to Government in April, although it may be a week or two after Easter rather than before Easter as I had initially intended.

See this speech in context