Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is indicating that is not the case. He might correct me on that because one of the issues Knock airport has brought to my attention is that it does not have that additional income, and the way in which this section is devised means it will be unable to benefit from it. Section 23 reliefs needs to be consigned to the State's history books, but there must be other ways to ensure that Knock airport can benefit from this section. That is the reason I have proposed in my amendment that a report be completed on section 31, with a focus on its impact on regional airports, examining whether they are at an unfair disadvantage, and that the Minister consider proposals to rectify any distortions in competition.

I heard what the Minister said about this being subject to state aid rules; therefore the European Commission will adjudicate on distortions in competition. There are, however, other areas with which the report can deal, specifically all of us in the House want Ireland West Airport and all our regional airports to flourish. Are there other tailor-made solutions or can we tweak this section a bit more to benefit the airport, recognising that the Minister has brought forward an amendment that possibly can benefit that airport?

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