Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to state I represent a constitutency, with Deputy Niall Collins, in which the Shannon story started in a much different format with sea planes and flying boats. Since then under many Governments the airport has received the political support of political parties of all colours. The vision of the early pioneers who built Shannon Airport at Rineanna and the political support it received from some quarters at the time should be acknowledged. Some spoke about rabbits running around the runways. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has taken this initiative to make sure that prophesy does not come to pass - that rabbits will not be running around the runwayd. In recent years the people of the mid-west have seen the sad decline of the airport. Every time one goes there - it is one of the finest facilities in the country - one notes fewer cars parking places are occupied. Therefore, something had to be done. The establishment of an independent airport that can compete on a level playing field with other airports in the west is something these other airports in the west should welcome and embrace. They should examine how Shannon Airport and they can work together. It is a long drive from Castletownbere to Malin Head and it should be noted that there are four functioning airports in the west. There is an opportunity for them to come together to develop a strategy that would support and meet the needs of all the people in the region.

The proposal brought forward by the Government, as the Minister said, relates not only to Shannon Airport but also to Shannon Development.

I have said previously in the context of the new Limerick local authorities being established that there needs to be an examination of the lands owned by Shannon Development in advance of this new company taking ownership. In County Limerick alone, Shannon Development has 250 acres in Plassey, 300 acres in Raheen, 220 acres in Askeaton and 15 acres each in Kilmallock and Newcastle West.

See this speech in context