John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I echo the comments of many colleagues with regard to those who stood in elections - those were elected and those who were unsuccessful. It takes a huge amount of courage to put one's name on a ballot paper. We were delighted to gain a seat in Waterford and to be the largest party in local government on Waterford City and County Council. Two new councillors - Niamh O'Donovan and Jim Darcy, who returned after a ten-year absence - joined our other six amazing councillors so I am really looking forward to working with them for the betterment of Waterford.

In the context of Waterford, Senator O'Loughlin will testify that this is my fifth time to raise this issue because she was deputising for the Leader on two of the previous occasions. I have raised the issue of the fact we have not had a debate in this Chamber on national aviation policy. I have asked that the Ministers, Deputies Eamon Ryan or Chambers, come to the House to have a debate. We have a business case seeking matching funding for €12 million of private sector funding to expand the runway at Waterford Airport and neither of the Ministers has come before the House. The last time I raised this issue I said that we really need to know if it is a case they are just refusing to come to the House or what the case is. It is unacceptable for a Senator to request a debate on five occasions and for a Minister yet to have come to the House to discuss what is an exceptionally important issue, not only for Waterford but also in the context of our other national airports and the ongoing issues in terms of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. I implore the Leader to schedule that debate. It is so important.

Finally, I support Senator Malcolm Byrne's comments about our athletes who have done a phenomenal job at the European Championships, and about the sports capital grant scheme which is so important. As a former PE teacher, it starts with the grassroots and the work done by volunteers and it is appropriate that the Government supports them in terms of investment.