Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here to discuss what Senator Chambers has described as probably the most important issue for the west of Ireland. Connacht is often the Cinderella province. The most vital infrastructure in Connacht and the wider north west is Ireland West Airport. As Senator Chambers has outlined, it is vital we get as much Government support as we can for the airport. It is without question in crisis. I understand the Taoiseach is today meeting some of the staff from Knock Airport. I understand that representatives of the airport will be before the transport committee next week as well. We cannot state strongly enough how important this is. This was and is the people's airport. As Senator Chambers rightly said, Monsignor Horan drove this project. He was criticised for doing so, but there was enthusiasm in the west for the project, which, by the way, without being offensive to anybody, was criticised not alone by politicians in the east of the country but also many people in the media. It was described as a crazy project, but that point of view has been proven absolutely wrong.

Knock Airport is without question the most important piece of infrastructure in the west. We must maintain it. The local authorities in Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon have contributed €8 million towards the airport, so the CEOs and the local authority members in those counties are aware of its significance and importance. I hope we will get the proper support for the airport and I hope the Minister of State will bring back a strong message, as I have been giving to the Taoiseach, that it has to be supported, not alone for the jobs but for the future of the whole economy of the west.