Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like other colleagues, I wish the Leader and his partner well for the future. I agree with Senator Kieran O'Donnell's comments on regional development and particularly on the development of our regional airports. Dublin Airport is almost at full capacity. There is talk of another terminal and at least one other runway. A lot of this work could be avoided by upgrading the road infrastructure to Shannon Airport. Doing so would open up that airport to the part of the country from which I come. Indeed, the infrastructure should be continued into the North of Ireland. As my colleague, Senator Ó Donnghaile, will attest, Belfast International Airport is an excellent airport. Those airports should be prioritised for upgrade and the infrastructure to Belfast and Shannon airports should be put in place in order to avoid huge expense to the taxpayer at Dublin Airport.That is a matter on which we should have a discussion. We should invite the Minister, Deputy Ross, and the Minister of State with responsibility for regional development to come to the House to discuss it.