This article is from page 6 of the 2011-11-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
GOVERNMENT TDs in the midwest region have been accused of standing idly by as transport minister Leo Varadkar prepares the way for Shannon Airport to be handed over to private operators.
Fianna Fáil Transport spokesperson and the county’s lone Dáil Éireann representative, Deputy Timmy Dooley, rounded on comments attributed to Minister Varadkar after his visit to Clare on Friday last, while at the same time hitting out at “the lack of comments” from local TDs from the Fine Gael and Labour benches over Shannon’s future.
“To hear that Minister Varadkar is considering handing over the run- ning of Shannon Airport to a private operator is disturbing,” said Deputy Dooley, “considering that the minister has just appointed a team of international consultants to advise on the ownership and management structures at Shannon Airport.
“It would seem to me that the Government should first wait for the conclusion of that process before considering any proposals. The minister’s comments are clearly aimed at leading the consultation towards a predetermined conclusion,” he added.
Since the proposal to semi-privatise Shannon through a lease agreement for between 15 and 35 years – contained in a submission to Government by SAA chairman, Brian O’Connell – first emerged in Sep- tember, Deputy Dooley has been the harshest critic of the plan.
“Operational losses at Shannon Airport are currently significant but it must be understood that we’re in the middle of the deepest global recession since 1929,” he said this week.
“While the problems at the respective airports must be addressed for sustainable regional development in the south and the mid -west regions, handing over the airport to private, profit-driven operators would not be in the region’s best interests.
“I am amazed at the lack of comments from Government representatives in the south and mid-west regions. They produced many fanciful proposals while in opposition but have remained surprisingly silent at a time when very serious decisions about the future of Cork and Shannon airports are being made,” he added.