Ciarán Cannon (Fine Gael)

I echo the calls for an urgent debate on air transport policy. The shocking revelations of the past 24 hours must lead us to conclude that we need to examine urgently job creation and the conditions required for job creation across the country. If the Government is serious about balanced regional development, it must look to ensure the future of Shannon Airport and other airports serving the western region. I ask for the patience of the Cathaoirleach to hear these words from a person who said that Shannon is being run by remote control from Dublin and, as part of Aer Rianta, does not have the freedom to compete for business to the fullest extent with Dublin. "The dead hand of Dublin was slowly strangling Shannon Airport'' he said and as long as Shannon and Cork remain under Aer Rianta ownership and control, they offer no competitive threat to the company's main profit generator, Dublin Airport. He said he wanted to see Shannon Airport thrive and prosper and "We believe that the airport must have complete freedom to market itself as a regional gateway to the mid west and west of Ireland in direct competition with Dublin." Those remarkably prescient words were spoken 11 years ago by Des O'Malley, when he recognised the threat that existed to Shannon Airport. That threat still exists and is more serious now.

No matter what one thinks of Mr. O'Leary, we must conclude his track record in the aviation business is second to none. He has pointed out quite correctly that Shannon Airport was dying on its feet. At the height of Shannon's success in 2008, Ryanair employed 300 staff in Shannon, had six aircraft at the airport and served 53 routes around Europe. Two years later, Ryanair has one aircraft there, employs 45 people and, after its Paris route closes in a few weeks, it will serve just six destinations from Shannon. Something urgently must be done. Along with everyone on the west coast, I welcome the recent announcement of the proposed M17 motorway, which was announced with great fanfare. This will serve a major tranche of the west coast and link with the newly opened M6 motorway. Part of the reason for the new road network is to ferry passengers safely and efficiently to Shannon Airport. Unless something is done urgently, that road will ferry people to an empty airport in two years' time.