Danny Healy-Rae Demands Fair Funding for Kerry and Shannon Airports
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in the Dáil about regional airport funding and travel policy, urging that Kerry Airport and other western airports receive a fair share of announced money and better connectivity. He criticised what he described as Dublin-focused planning, raised concerns about airport testing and quarantine, and warned of the local impacts of air travel and public health rules.
Funding for regional airports
He thanked Deputy Michael McNamara for bringing the motion and said money has been announced for regional airports. He urged that Kerry Airport, under the stewardship of John Mulhern and his staff (many of whom are not working), should receive a fair cut of that funding.
Shannon Airport and compulsory stopovers
He said Shannon Airport is "on its knees as a transatlantic airport" following the cancelling of the compulsory stopover, arguing that the benefit of the stopover was known and its removal has led to reduced traffic and a focus on Dublin.
Criticism of Dublin-focused policy
He accused the government and deputies in Dublin of being "perplexed with Dublin and only Dublin only," calling for a fair deal for rural Ireland and the western seaboard rather than concentrated investment in Dublin, including a planned top terminal in Dublin that he said is unfair.
Testing, quarantine and public-health concerns
He reiterated calls for airport testing since the start of the pandemic and asked where quarantine measures promised for arrivals have been. He cited comments from "Dr. Houlin" about no drinking in pubs for Christmas as "a kind of dictatorship" while air travel is being opened.
Connectivity and local air services
He called for improved connectivity for Kerry people and the western seaboard, listed counties such as Kerry, Limerick and Clare, and named local airports including Shannon, Kerry and "Cuck" as vital to the region. He said rural Ireland must get a fair cut and has not been getting it in recent times.
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Cathaoirleach, I am glad to get the opportunity and I want to thank Deputy Michael McNamara for bringing this very important motion before the Dáil here today, because it is very important Cathaoirleach. Money has been announced for regional airports and I only hope that Kerry Airport under the stewardship of John Mulhern and his staff, who the very most of them are not working now, I hope that the Kerry Airport gets a fair cut out of this money. Shannon Airport is on its knees as a transatlantic airport, which it has and had been for many years. It's been greatly reduced as a result of the cancelling of the compulsory stopover and you see the TDs and the governments previously knew the benefit of the compulsory stopover and since that was taken away and all the air traffic is into Dublin and I say directed by far to Ireland because they are not properly selling Shannon Airport at all. But when we hear that there is going to be a top terminal to be built in Dublin and as has been previously pointed out, it is not even good for Dublin, it is very unfair. All we want in the West of Ireland, in rural Ireland, in places like Kerry and Limerick and Clare and all up along the West and South West, we want a fair cut and we are not selfish, we just want a fair cut. All we want to say is that the government is like the government of today and the deputies up here in Dublin, they are perplexed with Dublin and only Dublin only. All we are saying and I have been calling as well for testing in airports for air travel since the very start. Where is the quarantine that was to happen to people coming in from other countries? It has not been happening. And then we are putting people in rural Ireland under pressure where we have been told the other day by this Dr. Houlin again that there will be no drinking in pubs for this Christmas. That is a kind of dictatorship to me and at the same time opening up the air travel, all knowing what effect that is going to have on the people around the country again. I am calling for connectivity for the Kerry people and all of the Western seaboard and the Western counties. And it is only right that we get a fair cut and that the people of rural Ireland get a fair deal because they have not been getting it in recent times. Even before the coronavirus at all, Shannon was in his knees and Kerry has been struggling. And I believe, and I honestly say to Falter Island, they have not been selling our regional airports at all. And Cuck is another airport that is very vital to Kerry people. It is vital and necessary. But I am saying here to you, Kahir, all we want is a fair court of it and we have not been getting it from this government, the last government. Okay, I have to move on to. Mr. Senator. Mr. Senator. Mr. Senator. Mr. Senator. Mr. Senator. Mr. Senator. Mr. Senator.
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