Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to welcome that it looks like Limerick will now be included in the world cross-country championship rallies. There was doubt about whether Limerick, Kerry and Waterford would be included in backing from the Department of sport, but I understand that negotiations are under way. It is not quite clear about which year this will happen, but it is most welcome news that the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, is in the throes of a negotiation, which looks like it is going to be successful. I welcome that news and I wish that rally all the best. It will either be in 2026 or 2027. We will wait and see. It was meant to be 2025, but hopefully it will work out.

I know that Shannon Airport is expanding its portfolio. The other day I was looking at a video of somebody reminding people that they could spend 20 minutes in their car to get to the airport and then get on the plane. This is a message that we in the mid-west need to send to people. One still hears of people queuing in Dublin Airport who are finding it difficult to find car parking spaces. We therefore need to look at expanding our regional airports and supporting them. I call on the Government to support our regional airports in a more beneficial way through funding.