Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House for this important debate. We have had a number of debates on all elements of aviation policy announced in the last few weeks. It is welcome to get clarity once and for all on these issues. I will try to address those elements that have a particular relevance to the west of Ireland, the mid-west and County Clare in particular.

It is important that the right solution is found for Dublin Airport. There was much negative comment during the last few months over the perceived delays by the Government in making this decision. It is much better to spend the time going through the planning stages rather than jumping to conclusions much too early.

Successive Governments from all sides have been responsible for making shoddy decisions on future planning for infrastructural projects. That has got us where we are today with decisions on the West Link toll bridge and on other infrastructural projects that did not take account of the expected growth. I welcome the fact that the two parties in Government have played an active role in ensuring that the right decision was made.

There was an effort on behalf of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the coalition partners on Dublin Airport. It was perceived by some elements in the media and in the Opposition that there were differences of ideology. I am sure that there were not and that the best interests of society were taken into account by the two parties coming together.

A comprehensive package of measures has been put together to ensure the level of development required to cater for the future needs of the travelling public. It is good that this decision has been arrived at. However, there have been references in the media to the effect that it is a fudge.