Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before talking about Shannon, which is the primary issue that I wish to discuss tonight, I join with Deputy Connolly in calling for some clarity about when the islands will open, and whether they will open for family members, which is most important, for people who have a holiday home there, and for tourism. They are all important but to different degrees. Some clarity is required as all the other areas of opening up are being brought forward.

Last week, I addressed this House in the Minister's presence and accused him of a certain Dublin bias, or at least of having concentrated on Dublin during his tenure as Minister. We have talked a lot about contagion in this House in the last couple of weeks and the dangers of contagion. I wonder if that bias is particularly contagious, given the Minister's fleeting visit to Bunratty and the fact that we now have the Shannon Heritage group. It has decided that it will close all of its heritage sites in the mid-west, which it is supposed to serve primarily, from the end of August onwards. It is opening them up at the end of this month. The sites that it runs in Dublin will remain open and be serviced, including the General Post Office, Malahide Castle and gardens, and Newbridge House and Farm. That is of concern to me. If these essential tourist sites in Dublin are important enough to be kept open, why are they not important enough to be kept open in the mid-west? I do not mean to be facetious. There is obviously a difference in ownership structures. I have raised this issue with the Shannon Group and its management has questioned whether it is appropriate for a commercial semi-State body to pump money into something that it knows will lose money, the Shannon Heritage sites. I am not expecting that the Minister will make a decision in the time left to him as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, but maybe he will initiate an examination of it, if it is not appropriate for Shannon Group to maintain these sites.

Deputy Cathal Crowe had a plastic model of Bunratty Castle. Unfortunately, the real castle is made of bricks and stone and is an ancient building which is expensive to maintain. It is a protected structure, as it should be, and any works which were to be carried out would have to be done to a high standard and would be expensive because of the nature of the building and the degree of specialisation required to work on it.

In addition, because it is a building that receives many tourists, it inevitably requires significant upkeep every year. The same is true of Knappogue Castle, Dunguaire Castle, near Kinvara, King John’s Castle and Craggaunowen. These are expensive sites to maintain. While they are important tourist sites, they are also an important part of our heritage. How do we value our heritage? Clearly, the structure that is being put in place for the visitors' centre in the GPO, Malahide Castle and Newbridge House means the heritage of those sites is valued highly because Shannon Heritage will continue to keep them open whereas the heritage of the sites in the mid-west seems to be of lesser value, and I find it difficult to reconcile that. Even if it is the case that somehow one is more important than another because of an ownership structure, with none in private ownership, and if the structure needs to be maintained to ensure investment in them, state aid rules have been relaxed. Fáilte Ireland and the airport group were to invest a sizeable sum in Bunratty Castle. Given that this is an essential heritage site, perhaps the State should consider investing that money instead because the Shannon Group is not in a good place.

Last but by no means least, I would like to mention the Aer Lingus workers. Some have given a lifetime to Shannon Airport and they have been told that from Sunday week, they will not even be on standby in the event that Aer Lingus diverts a plane there or the airport starts opening up. Other companies will be called on to carry out ground crew work or any essential works that are required. I have long held suspicions about Aer Lingus’s attitude to the airport. It informed my attitude to the sale of the 25% shareholding a number of years ago. However, it has been confirmed by Aer Lingus management that the staff who have given a lifetime of work to Shannon Airport will be relegated to a much lesser status than those at Cork and Dublin Airports. It is not fair or right. I appreciate that Aer Lingus is a private company, and I expect that will be the Minister’s response. However, it is somehow the flag carrier for Ireland and if the Government could signal its opposition to that move, it might carry some weight. I urge it to do so.

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