Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister accept that in the event of the European Commission giving permission to Ryanair to purchase the Aer Lingus stock, this would represent a negative position from an Irish point of view, particularly as it would reduce the level of competition between us and our nearest neighbour, one of our biggest markets, and within the wider European context? Will the Minister also comment on the Cabinet decision today to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority? How will this benefit our overall capacity to attract tourism to Ireland, considering the Minister has failed to give the appropriate level of support to Shannon by virtue of removing Aer Rianta International, the vital revenue source that has formed part of the Shannon operation for decades, from that airport?

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