Vol. 331 No. 3
asked the Minister for Transport if he will give details of the rescue plan for Shannon Airport; if it is proposed to implement the plan; and, if not, if he is aware of the widespread public concern such a decision would have for tourism, aviation traffic and service and other industrial development at the airport, in the mid-west region and in the west of Ireland generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2.
asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to boost passenger traffic through Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Cavan-Monaghan)for the Minister for Transport: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
I assume that the rescue plan referred to by Deputy O'Malley is in fact the comprehensive approach being pursued jointly by Aer Rianta and the Shannon Free Airport Development Company— SFADCo — with a view to formulating proposals for the promotion of additional passenger traffic through Shannon Airport. Consultations on these proposals, which involve a number of other agencies, are proceeding, and Aer Rianta have assured me that when this work has been completed details of the joint Aer Rianta/SFADCo proposals will be submitted to me for consideration. It will be necessary, of course, for the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism to consider the proposals also from the point of view of SFADCo's area of responsibility.
Is the Minister aware that these proposals were given to the Department concerned last July? In view of that, how does he say they are still being studied and that submissions will be made to the Minister after some time? Does the Minister appreciate that this is a matter of the gravest urgency? At my request studies were brought forward rapidly. They were completed in a matter of months and they became available in July. It is now the end of November.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am fully aware of the urgency and importance of these studies and proposals, and for that reason it is all the more important that the proposals should be based on detailed studies in depth by the relevant agencies. There may have been proposals ready in July but they were not based on adequate studies.
Is the Minister aware that the in-depth studies by the various agencies were completed in July when the report was also completed, and that they arranged a press conference for the publication of the results in mid-July. However, the Department concerned, at very short notice, decided to cancel the conference. Why? Is the Minister saying now that the studies, regarded as adequate and detailed, were not adequate? Is it not true that there is no commitment on behalf of the Minister and the Government to implement the result of the studies, the recommendations?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am not aware that the necessary in-depth or adequate studies had been carried out before it was intended to put forward proposals. I know that no such adequate studies were made. In matters of this nature, involving heavy commitments and expenditure, it is necessary to give serious consideration to them. There have been examples of the consequences of making proposals and commitments without proper studies, and this Government do not intend to do that.
The Minister has not answered Question No. 2 in my name.
What efforts is he making to boost passenger traffic through Shannon?
(Cavan-Monaghan): As I told Deputy O'Malley, I am awaiting the results of studies and proposals which have as their object the generation of further traffic and the improvement of Shannon Airport.
Are there not a number of projects that could be proceeded with immediately if the will was there and the desire? Could not the Government go ahead with these projects?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I do not know which projects the Deputy has in mind. An overall study is going on and we are doing everything——
Looking at the planes flying in and out.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I do not anticipate any delay in getting the matter before the Department. The Minister assures me that it will be dealt with promptly.
The Minister has been unwittingly facetious in his answers. Is he saying the studies have not been completed? He is only hedging. We know the studies were completed and that they were quite adequate. Will the Minister come clean and admit that the studies were completed last July, and will he arrange to have action taken on them now?
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister is satisfied that adequate studies were not made on which to base the proposals of last July, and for that reason the Minister, concerned in a responsible way, requested that the matter be dealt with in a serious and businesslike manner so that proposals based on adequate reports and studies would be brought in.
Is the Minister implying that the agencies involved did not carry out their work in a serious and business-like way?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am saying that the studies carried out then——
The Minister is saying that the agencies concerned did not carry out the studies in an adequate and businesslike way.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Deputy is putting words into my mouth.
They were the Minister's words.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Further studies were necessary and the Minister does not make any apology for doing the thing in a proper manner.
Shannon Airport is in a serious way.
As far as the Minister is concerned it does not matter.
