Last week the Taoiseach indicated he is keen to invest in Waterford Airport. Of course, we have been here before. Few will forget the €25 million of Government money approved by the last Fine Gael-Green Party coalition in 2007 for the runway extension in the airport. This promise turned to dust in the last days of the Celtic tiger. There is once again strong optimism in the south-east region that the runway might commence this summer. It appears it needs only approval from the Minister’s Department to make it happen and begin in the coming weeks.

Many of us recall a proud Cork Taoiseach cutting the cake at the opening of the Cork runway extension project in the early days of this Government, a model example of a project swiftly approved and completed. The Minister is examining the business case with all due haste, it appears. I ask him to provide a timeline. More importantly, does he share the Taoiseach's keenness for investment in this project?

I do not have a timeline and do not have a business case but we will review that when it comes in. We have seen significant increases in demand in Irish airports and have a dense network of airports providing international services compared to other countries. We have seen significant increases in Cork, Dublin, Shannon – all the airports, in effect. That makes a business case difficult in terms of where the further market is or how that would work, but I do not have a timeline and do not have a business case.

On a point of order, it is my understanding the Minister does have a business case. I would like him to clarify that.

No, not to my understanding.