Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is correct. One may argue the point and say that I am being very parochial and I take the point in the spirit that it is being made by Senator Boylan, but I am making this point. I have every confidence in the Dublin Airport Authority and great respect and admiration for its chief executive, Dalton Philips. However, I am of the view that the second busiest airport in the country is Cork Airport. Pre-Covid-19, the growth in passenger numbers in Cork Airport was better than in Dublin and was exponential.

The Cathaoirleach may say that I perhaps have a second-city syndrome and am parochial but I cannot comprehend how there is nobody from Cork on the board of the Dublin Airport Authority. Such a person does not have to be from Cork but to represent, advocate and articulate on behalf of Cork within the DAA. To be fair, the policy within the DAA is quite positive towards Cork but Members might agree with me that in the functioning of an authority, it is better to have representation from regions beyond Dublin in the case of this authority.

I make the point to the Minister of State that this section, and what the Government is trying to achieve with it, is quite good. I have full confidence not just in the Minister of State, but in the ability to appoint people. If one looks at the context of the Bill, it is in consultation with recognised trade unions, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and there is a willingness to engage and to be more broadminded in terms of inclusivity. I am only making this comment and I thank the Cathaoirleach for indulging me on it. I see the Clerk looking at me and saying that I am straying beyond the realms of the Bill, and I genuinely appreciate and thank them for that. I have only one chance to represent Cork and I do that in the context of aviation policy with the overarching view of what we are trying to achieve with the Bill, which is that we must be inclusive and representative of the region beyond Dublin. I say that because our aviation policy, as I said on the Order of Business previously and in a Commencement matter today, is absolutely critical to our recovery from Covid-19. I will discuss air traffic controllers again and I hope that the Minister of State understands the spirit in which this contribution is made. It is not necessarily about this part of the Bill but I wish to put on record that the board of the DAA must reflect Ireland, which means that Cork must be included as well.