Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, on becoming leader of the Green Party. Approximately a fortnight ago, on Damien Tiernan’s show on Waterford Local Radio FM, the Minister pleaded ignorance on the status of the Waterford Airport business case but promised to look into it. The Green Party considers politics to be an honourable profession, but the people of Waterford are aggrieved in respect of the Waterford Airport business case. We are not being spoken to honestly on this matter. Even Government TDs have expressed outrage at the sandbagging going on. Waterford hoped for a Green Party Minister, but instead a Senator was chosen to be alleviated to Cabinet. At the same time, as leader of the Green Party, he has allowed, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to squat in office, which goes against the practice of Ministers not contesting elections being asked to resign.

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, said on local radio on Monday that the resolution of the airport debacle will require a change of Minister. Waterford awaits some honesty on these matters. Will the Minister provide it to us?

See this speech in context