Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. It is ultimately about services and routes for us, as an island nation, as we continue to grapple with Covid and as we seek to rebuild our international connectivity. It will be very important that we continue to provide extensive support to our airports. This is why we have made an intervention of the magnitude we have in the context of the budget for 2022. As the Deputy knows, some of this funding can be made available immediately. We recognise this is a significant challenge.

The Deputy touched on the impact of Covid on the tourism sector. We all know the role that aviation must play in bringing tourists to our country and for continued industrial development and the attractiveness of the mid-west region . It is vital that Shannon Airport secures once again its status as an important hub and a gateway to the mid-west region. I look forward to working with the Deputy, other colleagues and the Minister Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, as we continue to support Shannon.

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