Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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We have agreed to the conclusion of the Bill, which will now pass. I am in broad agreement with the provisions of the Bill, the importance attached to the establishment of Shannon Airport as an independent body, the bringing together of the assets of Shannon Development, notwithstanding my reservations about the viability of the combined entity. I hope, as a result of the decisions taken here, that we are on a path towards a viable future for Shannon Airport as an independent entity. On behalf of my party, I hope we can reach a time when a business plan for Cork Airport can be achieved that allows it, too, to operate independently. The only obvious point raised by a number of us through the Stages was our concern at how the pension provisions are included in the Bill. We have had that discussion, and it rests.

In welcoming the overall provisions of the Bill I wish the Minister well in the deliberations at Cabinet and Government level over the coming days. While I would not want to pre-empt the outcome of the discussions, if this is the Minister's last act as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I would want to pay my respects to him as somebody who has discharged his duties in a most effective, fair and honourable manner. He has shown his capacity to deal with complex legislation and political issues appropriately at all times in a way which seeks to include the views and concerns of all Members of the House regardless of their political hue or origins. That was not the case among people who occupied his position in the past, or many others at Cabinet of any political party.

For many, Deputy Varadkar has stood out as a Minister who has taken a fresh approach to involving Parliament. In dealing with legislation, he has sought to break down party political barriers. When ideas have come forward from any side of the House, he has sought to include them. Many of his colleagues and others who might occupy high office in future could learn from the example the Minister has set in his short time in Cabinet. I wish him well in his future career. He has set a standard for others to follow.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister and everyone else who contributed here. The viability of Shannon Airport and the merger that is taking place is very important. I am disappointed that we did not have a separate Bill to deal with pensions, as that issue is far too important and extensive and has huge implications not just now but into the future for many families who are in receipt of pensions and whose pensions are deferred. Overall, there are some good aspects of the Bill and I wish the Minister all the best in case he is not around to see it through to the end.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank all Members who contributed to the debate for their kind words and candour as well as for doing the important job of parliamentarians, which is to hold Government to account, point out flaws in Bills and propose improvements to them. I am genuinely grateful for that. The journey with Shannon began some three years ago when the initial decision was taken to separate it from the other State airports. While there is another session in the Seanad after this, a great deal of important work has been done in the last three years.

The Bill provides the legislative framework for a new Shannon group and a successful airport situated amid a successful aviation hub. It preserves the possibility of separating Cork Airport in future and provides a legislative framework for what I hope will be a resolution to the problems in the IAS pension scheme, allowing pensioners and future pensioners to have some security about their pensions. This has been an ongoing problem. I hope an agreement can be reached and that the legislative tools being put in place in the Bill will facilitate people in coming to a satisfactory agreement. The Bill further provides for us to adopt the alternative of the Cape Town Convention, which is designed to hold and advance our global position in aircraft leasing, which is particularly important to our economy.

I extend my thanks in particular to the officials in my Department who have been working on the Bill night and day for a very long time. They include Mary Dunning, Paddy Campbell, Matt Benville and, from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Stephen Curran. I also thank my special advisor, Brian Murphy, for whom this has been a special project. I extend my thanks to Rose Hynes and Neil Pakey, the chairman and CEO of Shannon Airport Authority, respectively, as well as to the board and staff at Shannon, Shannon Development and the board and staff of the DAA.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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A message shall be sent to the Seanad acquainting it accordingly.