As the Taoiseach knows, I speak a lot in this Chamber about Shannon Airport and advocate for it. I was delighted to see the Government take on my proposal that Shannon be a test bed for new forms of aviation over the lifetime of this Government. Indeed, it is in the programme for Government. I would like to hear some expansionary thoughts from the Taoiseach as to what that role could be. The future mobility campus in Shannon, which many Ministers have visited, could play a major role in this.

A few years ago, I travelled to Rotterdam Airport with the then Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell and former Deputy Joe Carey. We witnessed a significant amount of incredible stuff going on such as electric aircraft, vertical take off and landing and drone technology and I think Shannon could play a massive role with regard to developing some of this in Ireland. Regarding the future mobility campus testing all forms of new vehicles and AI-powered vehicles, it could also have a role in testing some of the new Garda fleet when it is provided.

It is true to say that the Deputy has been a very consistent and strong advocate for Shannon Airport and the Shannon area. At the beginning of the week, we met with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. One of the first comments he made regarding Ireland's historic relationship with China involved the degree to which China took on board the example of the Shannon free development zone. Shannon was one of the first areas he highlighted regarding how it led the way with respect to industrial development and how the Chinese more or less followed through on similar proposals decades ago. I take on board what the Deputy is saying because there will be very significant developments, particularly around AI, future mobility testing and so on. I will take the points made by the Deputy about the expansion and development of certain industries allied to Shannon Airport back to the Minister