Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am disappointed that neither the Minister for Transport nor the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, are here for this debate. I understand that the Minister brought to Cabinet a report that was carried out by NewERA on the financial situation of the Shannon Group, including Shannon Airport. It is important that the report is published and that the recommendations are made known and implemented. Deputy O'Donnell mentioned that Shannon Airport is now included in the regional airports programme, which is very welcome, but that must be done on a permanent basis. Doing so would be in total compliance with EU state aid rules and that vital funding stream would give some certainty to the airport regarding its future. The national aviation policy is set to be reviewed. I am chair of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas group, which works with Deputies and Senators from across all parties in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary. We hope to extend that to Galway too. We are going to work with the airport to put together a proposal for the Minister on the national aviation policy. We need to give a fair slice of the national aviation cake to Shannon Airport because it is a driver of economic activity in the west and mid-west, supporting 46,500 jobs. It is important that the recommendations contained within this report are implemented. I welcome the allocation of a further €10 million to the airport that was announced during the week but I would like to see that type of money being invested in the airport on a permanent basis.

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