Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a level playing pitch. I challenge Deputy Calleary to point out anything in the legislation that cannot apply equally to Knock airport and Shannon airport. The threat to Knock is not from Shannon and the threat to Shannon is not from Knock. The threat is that those in a larger airport such as Dublin will use this and attract the refurbishment industry, and the best of luck to them because they have many advantages that the west does not have. That is where the threat comes from but it does not arise from anything we are putting into law. The law is treating all airports equally. What is going into law is applicable to all the airports. The airports must get out and try to attract investors in and, if they do, the best of luck to them, but it is a level playing field.

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