Seanad debates

Wednesday, 10 October 2007

5:00 pm

Photo of Fidelma Healy EamesFidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, for attending the debate. I am a Senator from Galway West and I represent the west's perspective in the national context. My speech is much longer than the time available to me.

The Minister for Transport and the Marine, Deputy Dempsey, addressed the House at the start of the debate. Despite what he said about what has been done by the Government to try to reverse this decision, to save the important Heathrow slots and to preserve connectivity to the rest of the world, I have seen no real passion or will on the part of Fianna Fáil towards Shannon, the west or balanced regional development. I have little time to speak on this matter. I realise Shannon is a political soft target for the Fianna Fáil-led Government. We have heard of Fianna Fáil's intention to develop the party in Northern Ireland. Is this why it has moved the slots from Shannon to Belfast? As many speakers have noted, the fairest way would have been, at the very least, to share out the slots between the four regions of Ireland, including the Belfast region. It is pathetic how Fianna Fáil has abandoned its voters in the west by selling them out.

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