Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

If we look at the bigger picture including tourism potential and the development of the regions, we need to ensure that we give equal treatment to Knock, Shannon and Cork. With the population that is in Dublin, Dublin Airport will always prosper. There is no point in saying it will not. The volume of people is coming through it. If we are to have balanced economic regions and people working and living in other parts of the country, we must ensure that we treat all parts of the country the same. I am very worried for the airports at Cork, Shannon and Knock. While Dublin will survive and may receive extra flights, I worry that those airports will suffer the consequences a few years down the road.

The Government has made its decision. We should have assessed it better. This is a day when something that has been with us for years will fly away. When it flies away, it is gone and we cannot replace it. As a nation, we do not want to be scratching our heads in five or ten years asking why we did that on that day. One will hear different views.

The one thing that has not been talked about is Aer Lingus Regional. There is a contract for the next four to five years, but we do not know what is happening with it at the moment. IAG has its own regional set-up. Aer Lingus Regional has served even the smaller airports around the country very well and given a good service. It has gathered people and brought them to different places where they could embark on larger aircraft. There does not seem to be a word about it. We must remember that there are 700 people involved in Aer Lingus Regional. While some call it Stobart Air, that is what it is running under. That needs to be assessed also. Is this part of the deal and what will happen in three or four years when the Stobart contract is up? It is on contract to Aer Lingus. I hope it does not happen, but will it mean more Irish people losing their jobs?

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