Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and staff of the Oireachtas on the celebration yesterday. It was very appropriate and lovely to see so many former Members in attendance. I congratulate all involved in such a lovely occasion and we are all honoured to be a part of it.

Yesterday the people of the mid-west got good news with the announcment that there will be a new route between Shannon Airport and Liverpool, which will commence in March of next year. I wish to compliment the team in Shannon Airport on the hard work they have put into developing the airport and recovering from Covid times.

Yesterday, the Tánaiste set out the vision for the region in the form of the Shannon estuary economic task force. I compliment Mr. Barry O'Sullivan, chairman of the task force, and all who were involved in finalising the interim report. The report sets out how the region can play a leading role in the switch to renewable energy and more climate friendly ways of living and doing business. The estuary could become a hub for sustainable transport technologies and a western digital gateway to Europe. The interim report proposes significant investment in the ports at Foynes and Moneypoint, which would be welcome, a new auction for floating wind generation in 2024, and identifying industrial sites for clean energy industries like hydrogen. The interim report also sets out the task force’s ambition to begin supplying Atlantic offshore wind energy through the estuary by 2030 with the intention of significantly accelerating it up to 2050.

The interim report looked at the tourism sector in the area. Certainly this report will lead to huge economic transformation and job creation. The Government needs to move forward with the report. I do not want the interim report left lying on a shelf; I want to see it implemented.