Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the separation of Shannon Airport and the DAA. The Government claims that doing nothing is worse than doing something but that is not always the case. I hope the ambition to create 3,500 jobs as a result of this move will be achieved in the long term - it would be brilliant if this happens. I certainly hope it will and I wish the project well. However, it is pushing it somewhat to believe this plan will work. The projected passenger figures, moving from 1.5 million to 2.5 million in the coming years, are very optimistic. I agree with the two previous Deputies about Aer Rianta International. It will be difficult for life to work at Shannon without the benefit of Aer Rianta International, which is sure to make a few bob.

I am afraid this could be the beginning of the end for Shannon as a serious airport although I hate to think that. Perhaps in some years time Shannon may become just a regional airport. I wonder if it is being cut loose. Some companies are to come in within the new amalgamated group, but perhaps we are watching the facilitation of the arrival of the last few vultures to pick on the carcass that is Shannon. It was interesting to note that the Kerry Group, which, to its great credit, set up a new research and development centre in Ireland rather than go offshore like so many others, has set up in County Kildare. According to the group, it needed the connectivity of Dublin, in particular Dublin Airport. What does that company think of the future of Shannon Airport? How optimistic is it that Shannon is a viable long-term project, given that it did not decide to set up in Kerry, or at least in the Munster region to which it has shown loyalty over the years?

The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, stated that part of the new Shannon strategy will include attracting further military stopovers. He noted that the number of US troops using the airport has dramatically declined as the American presence in Iraq and Afghanistan has decreased.

Obviously, any new business is welcome, but such business must be conducted within certain rules. It is unfortunate that the spectre of it being used to facilitate rendition flights still hangs over Shannon Airport. It would be great if the Government had the courage to deal with this matter. The previous Administration lacked such courage and one of its Ministers admitted that some aeroplanes which landed at Shannon Airport might have been used to pick up people who were then brought to different destinations where, in many instances, they were tortured or imprisoned illegally without trial. In the context of Shannon Airport, the programme for Government states, "We will enforce the prohibition on the use of Irish air space, airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with the dictates of international law". I am sure the Government is well aware that the United Nations has some serious concerns about-----

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