This article is from page 12 of the 2012-05-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
CLARE County Council is demanding representation of the government appointed steering committee that will be charged with implementation of Shannon’s new status as a stand alone semi-state airport independent of the Dublin Airport Authority.
And the council is also demanding a seat on the board of the new Shan- non Airport management company that’s put in place by this steering committee as the final piece of the independence jigsaw.
This wish list of Clare’s premier decision making body was aired at a meeting of the local authority’s Strategic Policy Committee for Community and Enterprise, Tourism and Emergency Services in Áras an Chláir on Monday morning.
“We should write to Minister Var- adkar, impressing on him the need to put that steering committee in place as soon as is possible,” said Cllr Joe Arkins (FG), “and
We want representation on that committee and have to demand it”.
Expanding on Clare County Council’s demands, former Mayor of Clare, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) called on the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, to “set up the new board and Clare County Council should have proper representation on it”.
“Before the new board is put in place the DAA still have control of Shannon and they aren’t going to spend a great deal of time focusing on Shannon,” warned Cllr Richard Nagle.
“It won’t be a priority, so it is imperative for the well-being of the airport that this steering committee is put in place very quickly and that it has very clear and focused objec- tives and a very aggressive marketing strategy because that’s the only way the airport is going to be turned around,” he added.
Members of the SPC resolved to write to Minister Varadkar seeking a meeting over the next couple of weeks, with a deputation of councillors, business and tourism interests in the region airing their views and vision for an independent Shannon Airport.