Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I welcome that the Government has at long last made a decision after procrastinating for the past 14 months. However, the decision puts the cart before the horse. The Minister outlined his plans to set up a steering group to bring forward detailed proposals but I would expect the Government to have a clear understanding of how to proceed with the development of Shannon. Today's statement contains nothing except a cut and paste of existing operations to other entities within the overall State structure. Dublin Airport Authority has been relieved of the burden of the €8 million which the region required.

When will the Government set out a clear strategy for growth in passenger and tourism activity at Shannon Airport? When will it set out proposals that show it is serious about regional development and not solely concerned with protecting the interests of the Dublin Airport Authority? When will it get real about the need to protect investment in the infrastructure that has played a vital role in the region's development and the 7,000 or 8,000 jobs that have been created there? This is a question for the Government as a whole because the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has taken a wrecking ball to Shannon Development, a State entity that has been responsible for the developing the region, creating jobs and allowing Shannon to pass through its different phases from light engineering to the knowledge economy.

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