Elisha McCallion (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague for bringing forward the motion to the House. For us, the motion is not solely about Shannon Airport. It is not even only about Limerick or, indeed, the mid-west region or the west of Ireland. It is about a policy to create prosperity for all of the regions throughout the entire island. The motion is about planning so the entire island develops economically with a long-term strategy of balance rather than what we have had, which is short-term and shortsighted imbalance. If Shannon Airport fails and continues down the path of relegation from an international airport to a regional airport the implications go far beyond the mid-west. Shannon Airport has long been a beacon for the west and an alternative to Dublin Airport for long haul and short haul destinations.This motion is a mark of intent for a balanced island economy, not an economy solely based in the capital which does not in itself have sufficient housing and transport infrastructure. We have a capital city currently surviving more and more with workers who depend on long commutes and with infrastructure creaking at the edges. As with any island nation, transport links by both sea and air are key to the economic lifeblood of our island. However, our economic links to the world have been developed through blurred lenses for far too many generations. Brexit has given us the opportunity to look at this island and we have been forced to diversify our trade and develop an economic strategy with a broader vision. An island nation must plan infrastructure looking out to the world of trade but the whole island nation must look outward in a balanced regional development.

It is long past time for an all-Ireland transport strategy. In the past, our transport links have been used to haemorrhage people from our nation in a one-way trade with very little coming back in return. We now have a chance to grasp an opportunity to see balanced economic growth and prosperity not just in this area but in all the regions of the island. Balanced regional development in County Kerry, County Derry, County Limerick or County Longford will have the potential for people to find a job where they live and find a home they can afford in the places they like to call home. This gives greater quality of life, family life, climate benefits, community benefits and health benefits for all. Generation after generation of infrastructural planning has closed the door on regional development and treated Dublin not only as the capital of Ireland but as Ireland itself, with all policies and people focused on Dublin.

Five counties on this island have no rail link. Others, such as counties Derry and Meath, have very limited rail connections. The western rail corridor and a high speed train from Cork to Derry are projects that could show enormous advantages. They would help to spread economic activity, relieving Dublin while helping the rest of the island. Infrastructural policy is the foundation for wider economic policy and the societal change and need we must see in the future. Renewable energy, tourism, housing, manufacturing and agricultural changes will all be reliant on what transport policies we adopt now. This is true for both indigenous and international travel. Aviation policy has been shown to be a driver of economic success throughout the years. A report by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly has found that these two regions are lagging well behind other parts of the country across a range of sectors, including health, education, infrastructure and transport. A report by Limerick Chamber of Commerce finds that the establishment of a post-Brexit hub access from Shannon Airport to Frankfurt Airport could add an additional €412 million in GDP to the mid-west region. How can this Government hope for any economic development in the regions if a major and established transport hub is allowed to die, as we are seeing happen with Shannon?

Economic recovery has never been balanced across this country. Dublin and, to a lesser extent, the wider eastern and midlands area have recently experienced an over-concentration of population and jobs. As an island nation with a small, local economy, aviation plays a fundamental role in connecting Ireland to the global economy. The ability of firms located in Ireland to do business internationally and the attractiveness of Ireland for foreign direct investment, FDI, labour and tourism depend on aviation. Air links to hubs in the US and Europe are critical for regional development and necessary if the Government's ambition to drive 75% of growth outside the capital by 2040 are to be realised. A recent survey of 16 FDI announcements in the mid-west in 2016 found that each company involved cited Shannon Airport as a factor in its investment location decision.

Planning, investment and long-term infrastructural strategy are even more vital post-Brexit. Economically we need to do something so we have a generation which is not failed by our policies as the generations before were. Government does not need to turn plans going out for many decades. It can start a balanced regional development plan to sustain jobs and see economic growth by accepting this motion. We need coherent, integrated thinking in our transport infrastructure across the island. Linking our regional airports to improve transport infrastructure such as rail is absolutely essential. Supporting this Sinn Féin motion will have near-term benefits in saving jobs but this is fundamentally about the long-term benefits for the entire island. A balanced regional economy gives workers a balanced life, greater community spirit and better amenities. This is about planning and building for the future now. We are an island nation and the House should not let this opportunity slip from our grasp. I look forward to hearing support from Senators.