Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have. Will the Leader arrange for a debate on the position of Shannon Airport and the agreement to write off the ¤100 million debt, which is very welcome in the region, and to decouple the airport from the Dublin Airport Authority, which might not be the best decision in the long term? Fianna Fáil has an enormous record with Shannon Airport. It is the party that built, developed, maintained and retained the airport. For that reason, when Deputy Dooley spoke out he did so from a strong background, given where we stand on that airport.

Our position on Ireland West Airport Knock is that it is vital to retain that airport and, indeed, to give it similar support to that given to Shannon. Ireland West Airport is very important. It was built by Monsignor Horan and the people of Connacht and was supported by former Taoiseach, Charles J. Haughey, and a Fianna Fáil Government. The late Deputy Jim Mitchell described it as the foggy, boggy site. He was proved wrong.