Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will deal first with the criticism that the plan is too ambitious. I make no apologies for the fact the plan is ambitious. I recognise there is a risk. There is always a risk when one tries to do something. Abraham Lincoln said that when one tries, there is always the danger one will fail, but if one does not try, it is certain one will fail. I am very much heartened by the fact the Government has an ambitious plan for Shannon Airport. This plan seems to be successful to date and I hope it will be successful into the future.

Like me, Deputy Dooley will know there is not unanimity in any party on any issue, be it a budget or be it the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority. He will also know that the mayor of Clare, a decent man, speaking about the planned separation, said recently:

Any airport that relies on a single airline for a large proportion of traffic leaves itself open to a collapse of business if that operator pulls out. We have seen this happen in Shannon in the past, but I believe recent service announcements by Delta, Aer Lingus and United Airlines herald a new beginning at the airport.

I thank the mayor of Clare for putting his constituency and the future of Shannon Airport above narrow party interests.

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