Derek McDowell (Labour)

I move amendment No. 30:

In page 13, subsection (8), line 8, after "shall," to insert "following consultation with regional and local development associations and Chamber of Commerce and ".

The intention of amendment No. 30 is to provide that there will be consultation with regional and local development associations, specifically the chamber of commerce. We relate that, as the section does, to the articles of association.

The main purpose of the restructuring effort is to facilitate local and regional development. Its purpose is not just to facilitate the development of the airports but through them to facilitate the development of trade, industrial development and development generally in the regions contiguous to the two airports, Cork and Shannon. Given this and in a spirit of consultation and co-operation with the local interests, we should begin by requiring that the two boards, as soon as possible following their establishment, consult with regional and local development associations — which are easily identified — and the chambers of commerce on a range of issues of local importance. This arises particularly in the context of Shannon and I have no doubt the local commercial interests there will have a serious amount to say on how the airport might be managed and marketed in the years ahead. Similarly, we know that with regard to Cork the local chamber of commerce and business interests have been to the fore in making the case for the airport and its maintenance and development in recent years. This amendment seeks to give these interests some sort of statutory role, albeit a consultative one, in the process.