Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)

There is an atmosphere of gloom, doom and despair among the staff at Shannon. Rightly or wrongly on their part, there is a belief that there is an agenda not to treat Shannon seriously from the point of view of enhancing its development. I know the Department is constrained in terms of the amount of money it can invest, but it is possible to devise a coherent, integrated plan to develop and promote Shannon. That is why I ask the Minister to listen to what I say. Those working at Shannon, and the people of the mid-west generally, will take a great deal of convincing that action is being taken. These people picked up The Irish Times and the Irish Independent last Saturday and read of a further 100 jobs being axed at Shannon Airport. This will not do and is not acceptable.