Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach knows, I speak a lot in this Chamber about Shannon Airport and advocate for it. I was delighted to see the Government take on my proposal that Shannon be a test bed for new forms of aviation over the lifetime of this Government. Indeed it is in the programme for Government. I would like to hear some expansionary thoughts from the Taoiseach as to what that role could be. The future mobility campus in Shannon, which many Ministers have visited, could play a major role in this.

A few years ago, I travelled to Rotterdam Airport with the then Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell and former Deputy Joe Carey. We witnessed a significant amount of incredible stuff going on such as electric aircraft, vertical take off and landing and drone technology and I think Shannon could play a massive role in terms of developing some of this in Ireland. Regarding the future mobility campus testing all forms of new vehicles and AI-powered vehicles, it could also have a role in testing some of the new Garda fleet when it is provided.

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