Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Not at all, a Chathaoirligh, you are the finest.

With regard to the Commencement matter this morning, I, like all Members, put on record my solidarity with Senator Clonan. On countless occasions, Deputy Quinlivan and I have tried to get answers in respect of University Hospital Limerick and the trolley crisis there, but we are yet to have a line Minister come to the House to deal with a Commencement matter on that issue. It is incredibly frustrating and it is disrespectful to the House. I know the Cathaoirleach will address the matter at the conclusion of the Order of Business. I look forward to his comments.

I wish to raise the issue of air policy across Ireland. On the "Morning Ireland" radio programme this morning, a defence for the further expansion of Dublin Airport was put forward. That defence amounted to the fact that 31% of the population live in the greater Dublin area. The point is that 85% of flights leaving the State do so from Dublin. We know there is significant underused capacity in Shannon and Cork airports as well as Kerry Airport and Ireland West Airport Knock. I do not understand why there has been no attempt to address the issue of massive regional imbalance in aviation policy in the four years the Government has been in place. There is significant capacity and potential at Shannon and Cork airports, both of which are on the rise at the moment, but the Government still seems hell bent on letting the market rip and placing Dublin Airport in direct competition with Shannon Airport. On an island as small as Ireland, that simply makes no sense. I am calling for an urgent debate on the issue. Surely the Minister has to address the issue in the lifetime of this Government. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has not been focused on it at all to date. We need greater opportunities for growth at Shannon and Cork airports as well as much greater balance in terms of future aviation policy, but these are sorely lacking from this Government. I am calling for an urgent debate on the matter.