Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I echo Senator Murphy's words in regard to a visit to Strokestown. As someone whose grandmother came from Strokestown, I would like to be part of the delegation. I have been there many times. Strokestown has one of the widest streets in Ireland and possibly in Europe. A fabulous renovation and restoration job has been done on the museum. I support a cross-party delegation visiting. I put my name down as one of those people who would be entitled to go on the visit.

It is great to see the former Leader back again. It is like the old times. Indeed, Senator Buttimer and I were in Shannon Airport yesterday. As the only Dublin-based person on the trip, I ask those who live in the Shannon area and in the wider catchment area to consider using Shannon Airport. We saw the fantastic facilities. The airport has the most modern screening process in the world. Passengers do not have to remove liquids, laptops and computers or do all of the other bits and pieces one must do ordinarily. It is a fantastic facility. I think we were told that the airport has capacity for up to 7 million passengers - the number is certainly between 4.5 million and 7 million - but the airport has fewer than 1.5 million passengers. We are spending a lot of time upgrading facilities and building more facilities in Dublin Airport when we have Shannon Airport, which has one of the longest runways in Ireland. Between Ireland and the United Kingdom, Shannon Airport has the second longest runway after Heathrow Airport. Shannon Airport has loads of facilities. The time it takes to get through security and everything else is just fantastic. Parking charges are much cheaper. I urge people to use the airport. I do not mean to take away anything from Dublin Airport but I think we can spread the load better.

Finally, I did not hear anyone else comment on the fact that this is Bike Week. Maybe they did as I was walking across. I think it is important to mention it. We all need to consider using a bike. Last night, Senator Cassells promoted Bike Week on Facebook. He is back on the bike after 30 years.