This article is from page 51 of the 2012-06-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 51 JPG
THE Government decision to snub demands at Clare County Council level for the local authority to be given representation on the any of the three committees charted with shaping Shannon Airport’s future has been branded as “a disgrace”.
At the June monthly meeting of the county council, Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes (FF) led the charge against transport minister, Leo Varadkar, amid growing calls for a representative from the local authority to be brought onto one of the committees.
“It a disgrace that there is no local authority representation,” said north Clare electoral area representative, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), while Mayor Hayes said “it was hugely disappointing that there is no one from the council on the steering committee”.
Council criticism came despite the revelation that Minister Varadkar is seeking to meet with Clare County Council chiefs on Shannon Airport, with councillors vowing to crank up the pressure in demanding that the local authority be given a role in Shannon’s future. Meanwhile, both Shannon Development and the Shannon Airport Authority have welcomed the announcement of the task forces and steering committees charged with mapping a new direction for Shannon Airport and the wider Shannon region.
“We are pleased to be part of both Task Force teams,” said Shannon Development chief executive, Dr Vincent Cunnane. “Shannon Airport and the Shannon Complex (which includes the Shannon Free Zone) are major economic drivers for the Shannon region and the wider western region, and Shannon Development is fully committed to engaging with the various groups to chart the future direction that will secure the viability and sustainability of the airport in the years ahead.
“We are particularly pleased that a guiding principal for the overall approach of the Steering Group enshrines the future development of the wider Shannon region,” Dr Cunnane added.
“The announcement of the makeup of the Steering Group and Task Forces is an important step in the Government’s process to create a new ownership structure for Shannon Airport,” said Shannon Airport director, Mary Considine. “We look forward to working with the Steering Group and Task Forces that have been announced today to help shape a new future for the airport and the region in line with Government policy,” she added.