15 Oct 2013, 10:06
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications tomorrow meets to discuss the General Scheme of the Shannon Aviation Services and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2013.
15 October 2013
The legislation provides for the establishment of a Shannon Group company, which seeks to develop both the airport and its property assets, grow annual passenger numbers and create an International Aviation Services Centre.
As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny stage, the Committee will meet with representatives from the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA), Shannon Chamber, Clare County Council and SIPTU.
Chairman of the Committee John O’Mahony TD says: “The Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar TD recently referred this important piece of legislation to the Committee, which seeks to establish a new commercial State company through merging an independent Shannon Airport and Shannon Development. The meeting tomorrow forms part of a wider initiative to shape draft legislation at the Oireachtas Committees, with input from key stakeholders at the earliest stages. Emerging views of the Committee on the General Scheme will be conveyed to Minister Varadkar. The session will also help inform the Committee stage consideration of the Bill as it passes through both Houses.
“Earlier this year, the Committee heard SAA Chairman Rose Hynes state that the longstanding ‘spirit of innovation’ that exists at Shannon would be a significant advantage in the creation of an international aviation services centre of excellence. The airport itself is seeking to grow passenger numbers from the current levels of 1.4 million per year to 2.5 million per year in five years’ time. The meeting tomorrow will assist the Committee in scrutinising the proposed legislation that seeks to underpin these ambitious plans.”
The meeting commences at 9:30 am tomorrow Wednesday 16 October in Committee Room 4, LH 2000. Committee proceedings will be followed here.
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Committee on Transport and Communications
Deputies: Paudie Coffey (Vice-Chair), Michael Colreavy, Timmy Dooley, Dessie Ellis, Tom Fleming, Brendan Griffin, Noel Harrington, Seán Kenny, Éamonn Maloney, Helen McEntee, Mattie McGrath, Michael Moynihan, Patrick O’Donovan, John O’Mahony (Chair) and Ann Phelan
Senators: Sean D. Barrett, Terry Brennan, Éamonn Coghlan, Paschal Mooney, Ned O’Sullivan and John Whelan