Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

"Proportionately" was the word for which I was looking.

I am sure Senator Dooley will react to my sentiments on the following issue. He will be aware of the concern in the mid-west region about the open skies policy. To a certain degree, people in the area have embraced the open skies concept. The Minister said it will happen. The Mid West Regional Authority and the business interests in the area have accepted it but have asked for a number of years to develop the infrastructure. The important infrastructure in the area is a spur line from the Limerick-Ennis line to Shannon but all that is in the plan for the future is a feasibility study. When will that be undertaken? What will happen in regard to that infrastructure?

With regard to tourism in that area, thank God for the person who was described as a "bootboy" in the House yesterday. He is a reputable man in Ryanair. As far as people in the area are concerned, he has energised it because he has brought in many flights from different parts of Europe and, as a result, the area has picked up. However, what happens when these tourists want to go to the west? The Ennis-Galway road is Third World infrastructure.

The transport plan announced earlier this week is good on promises but what about the performance aspect? People are measured on performance and not on promises, especially by a sceptical, cynical public which looks at issues in that way. The open skies policy is likely to hit the mid-west region in the near future and will have a financial impact on the region. This transport plan was a chance to give something back to the area but that was not done. I would say "a lot more to be done". As a representative of the mid-west area, I am a little disappointed and I do not think the Mid West Regional Authority will look at it as something it wants. Members of the authority have told me that if the plan is to be implemented over five years it will not provide the infrastructure in the area.