Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has said in response to parliamentary questions this evening and at other times that the responsibility and priority of the Minister and Department is to ensure passengers' efficient travel through the airport. It has to be more than that, however, because we have to look out for the workers and the facility. Air travel is being driven by the low-cost airlines, which want to drive down the cost of flights and airport charges. If that happens, there will be underinvestment in our airport's facilities, infrastructure and staff and we will end up with terminal buildings that are just like sheds, with lines that stretch right down to the Cloughran roundabout and beyond. That is not where we need to or should go. Air travel should not be a race to the bottom. I am using the phrase in the broadest sense. We should value the workers and air travel. The aviation industry has a responsibility regarding the climate, employment and driving economic recovery and success in this country. That is where the bar has to be for the Minister of State, the Minister for Transport and the Government in general.

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