Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I add my voice to those seeking a discussion on air services, particularly the public service obligation for Derry. I do not exclude Donegal. When we talk about job creation we talk about the importance of tourism and tourism related industries. One of the greatest keys is access. We in the north west have a difficulty with our geographical location and the fact the local airport for the area is in a different jurisdiction. We had to battle against Belfast when I got the Dublin-Derry issue back on the agenda again. MLAs and MPs in the northern Executive and the British Parliament were circulated by the airports in Belfast to try to stop that at every cost because they saw it as a threat to their airport. We now have the new leader of the UUP running the gauntlet to try to stop us getting a decent road from Aughnacloy to Derry. Access is key for us. Between 48% and 52% of passengers using Derry Airport come from Donegal. Derry is a city of culture. It will be the stopover for the Clipper service and it will be the location for the north west Milwaukee festival in the next couple of years. We need the access to be kept open. I look forward to a chance to debate that not only in the Seanad and in the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement which is due to commence at 11.30 a.m., but also in the inaugural North-South meeting of MLAs and the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas that will take place next week. I wish that event well. It is time to get over the small-minded pettiness that politics sometimes throws up and look at real geographical movement and at trying to develop the island of Ireland in all its potential and economic value.