Shannon Airport has been used for 50 years. The USSR used a ten acre compound at the airport for years to which nobody in the Opposition objected as it provided tremendous employment in the area. Many countries have used the facilities at the airport. For instance, the total number of military aircraft belonging to 36 countries granted landing permission at Shannon Airport between 1 September 2001 and 33 September 2002 was 637. It would be foolhardy of us to withdraw those facilities at this time.