Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My question relates to the package of aviation supports announced of €126 million in total in grant assistance. I compare that to the withdrawal of stopgap funding of €375,000 to Waterford Regional Airport per year. There is a stunning absence of detail on this massive state aid to the sector. I have brought this up before. How is the Oireachtas expected to discharge our duty of budgetary oversight when we do not have the scantest information on this expenditure? We are always being told the airport sector does not get free state aid and therefore is beyond the scrutiny of these Houses. It is particularly important, when one looks at the out-of-control expenditure and practices going on in Cork and Dublin airports, as it appears this money falls out of the spirit of the Covid exceptions to EU state aid. Where are the economic analysis, businesses cases, procurement process, lobbying disclosures, oversight and public debate over what looks like a massive bung to Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports?

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