Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, on the decoupling of Shannon Airport from the DAA? I take no position on the issue other than to point out there is an amount of concern among the workforce in the Shannon area about the security of current jobs. The Government has indicated that a sizeable number of jobs will be created. We would like to have that teased out and firmed up, which might mollify those concerns to some extent.

I would also like the Minister to outline who will be responsible for the work done previously by Shannon Development in promoting major development in the Clare and Kerry regions, especially on the Shannon Estuary because a lacuna has appeared in this regard. It is tough enough trying to attract people to peripheral regions such as the one where I live, without being unsure which agency is in charge there.

I refer briefly to the threatened emigration by a large number of junior doctors, which came to light last week. That is a very serious matter. I compliment Senator Burke. I listened to an excellent interview he gave on radio last Friday during which he was clearly on top of the brief. Can we have an emergency debate on this issue?