Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

It is my view that little will be gained by continuing to look backwards regarding the Aer Lingus decision. Everyone must look for solutions and options that will address the adverse impact that may flow from this decision. That is the reason the Government commends the efforts of the Shannon Airport Authority for its positive response to a very difficult situation.

The authority has specifically identified airline services to the key European hub airports of London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt as being of key strategic importance to its ongoing development. The airport recently published a European hub airport incentive scheme for services to come into operation in 2008, which provides for significant discounts in airport charges and for the possibility of marketing support to be provided by Shannon Airport for the new services.

This is the way forward. An airport such as Shannon cannot have all of its eggs in one basket. London Heathrow is undoubtedly an important link to the wider world but it is not the only option. A total focus on London Heathrow to the exclusion of other possibilities does the airport and the region a major disservice.

Those campaigning for the restoration of connectivity should throw their full weight behind the efforts of Shannon Airport and the Government to secure connectivity to the wider world. While the Heathrow link will continue to be a priority hub for us, other major European hubs can offer the same opportunities and potential. Equally, I respectfully suggest that statements to the effect that only Aer Lingus can provide connectivity to Heathrow are less than helpful to the efforts being made by the Shannon Airport Authority to maintain connectivity in the region.

Arising from the Government's acceptance of the report of the senior officials group, it is proposed that taking account of its findings and the other issues addressed in its report, relevant Ministers, following consultation with the four mid-west planning authorities together with the Mid-West Regional Authority, will report back to the Government as soon as possible on strategies for unlocking the further development potential of the Limerick-Shannon gateway and its wider region in light of the substantial investment planned under the national development plan and Transport 21 to create an integrated infrastructure underpinning the region's competitive position.

I am delighted to have and I thank Members for giving me the opportunity to outline the Government's position on Shannon Airport and the development of the mid-west region.