I want to raise the issue of Shannon Airport again.

It has become increasingly clear that the separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA in 2012 has not delivered on the long-term benefits that were initially claimed, promoted and predicted. Shannon Airport is also in double jeopardy because even now, as we reopen airports and flights are on the horizon, its status as an international airport is being mismanaged and its functions delimited to those of a regional airport. In the programme for Government in 2021, the Taoiseach stressed the importance of connectivity to our overall economic development as an island nation. He stated that he was committed to delivering on the capital programmes required to support services at our State and regional airports. I urge him, along with the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to reinvest in Shannon Airport and to support policy to reintegrate it into a national airport authority.

We have invested in Shannon Airport and we will continue to do so. I had a very constructive engagement with all of the public representatives, including Senators and Deputies, from the mid-west region last week in respect of the absolute need for connectivity and enhancing connectivity between Ireland and the rest of the world but particularly between the regions, and in that context Shannon is very important.

On the broader issue, the decision was made a number of years ago to create an independent airport authority and that continues in respect of the broader economic development of the mid-west. For now the Government is focusing very clearly on ensuring both the support of the airport with both capital and current funding to enable it to leverage, attract and incentivise airlines to use the airport frequently to get people into the region.