Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The Government has set out a clear strategy for the region. We intend to recapture the pioneering spirit that existed at the foundation of Shannon Airport and the duty free zone. Shannon will become independent of the DAA and no longer will it have to carry its current debt burden. It will be able to set its own charges and compete properly with other airports. This strategy could work very successfully for the airport, although I understand there are mixed feelings about it in the DAA. Some people accept the decision but others are concerned that its success might threaten the dominance of Dublin. The new entity will combine the land assets around the airport with Shannon Development's skills in product and land development to develop an aviation services hub that creates jobs and investment.

One has to decide in these matters whether to wait until the process is complete before announcing one's strategy or to announce the strategy before putting an implementation group in place. Given the uncertainty that has existed over the past several months, I thought it made sense to go down this route.

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