Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Collins for sharing time with me. I have serious concerns about this proposal on the basis of its affect on the future of Ireland West Airport at Knock. It appears once again that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is determined to proceed with protecting the monopoly that is the current State airports at the cost of airports which are community-owned and have been in the past 30 years, in particular in the case of Knock Airport, driven by community-owned partnership. I acknowledge that substantial Exchequer support has been provided to Knock Airport. However, when this is compared with the type of support given to Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports, it is minimal.

Some 700,000 passengers travelled through Ireland West Airport Knock this year. The 110 people employed there support 900 jobs in the region. This is the type of progress being made at an airport which 30 years ago was considered a waste of time, ironically by the same parties now in Government. The reason Knock Airport has done so well is that it has been responsive to passenger need and demand, to the just-in-time turnaround for the low cost airlines and to the opening up of new markets across the Continent. It has tried, without much support, to break into new markets in the transatlantic sector. Its success was evident in its first year of operation in terms of passenger numbers. While service issues have arisen these will be followed up if the airport is lucky enough to secure another transatlantic operator.

The business plan for Shannon Airport has not yet been published. However, we are told that one of the targets in that plan, in terms of growing passenger numbers, is for it to recover lost passengers from Kerry and Knock Airports. Does the Government really expect me to support this? I am astonished that a Cabinet would support a business plan that involves the cannibalisation of other airports and threatens jobs in other airports to support the State monopoly. Anything that creates jobs is welcome. However, we are being sold this notion on the basis that there are job announcements in the pipeline, in particular hundreds of jobs around aircraft maintenance and so on. Ireland West Airport Knock identified the potential in this regard some years ago. It also proposed the use of Knock Airport as a hub for development aid. While the innovation came from Knock Airport the ball is now being carried by those who lacked that innovation but who have State support.

The people of Mayo are not against the development of Shannon Airport. What they want is recognition of Knock Airport as an international airport and an intrinsic part of our aviation policy. It is an airport deserving of that. In moving this motion now ahead of a national aviation policy, we are putting the cart before the horse. We are dismissing the role of other airports in the country to has-beens even though passenger demand indicates they are very much part of the future of Irish air travel. I am astounded that a Cabinet which comprises a Taoiseach from my constituency would endorse this proposal and would not engage in any meaningful way with the management and board of Ireland West Airport Knock. I gather there is to be a meeting next week. However, the horse will have bolted by then.

The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, stated earlier this year that unless Government policy changed Knock Airport would outgrow Shannon Airport. Government policy has changed. Shannon Airport has the golden ticket, debt write-off and substantial funding to enable it cannibalise the other airports in the region. That is not right. Rather than support job growth, this will discourage it. This will not encourage any new airlines into the airport, rather it will encourage the displacement of airlines from existing airports. It will not open up any routes, rather it will encourage the displacement of existing routes. The Minister of State can shake his head all he wants. He is a good man for making promises on the ground.

Deputy Collins referred to the empty Dell facility.

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