Clare TD to head up new cross-party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group

Clare TD Cathal Crowe has been elected as chairman of the newly re-constituted cross-party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group.

The ad-hoc group was originally established during the previous Dáil term by the now-retired Clare TD Joe Carey.

It includes TDs and senators from the constituencies of Clare, Galway-East, Limerick City, Limerick County and Tipperary North who have all agreed to work together to advance the cause of Shannon Airport and policy areas that support and enhance the Airport.

18 politicians attended the first meeting of the group last week and arrangements are now being finalised to meet with senior management from the Shannon Airport Group.

"We had full buy-in from everyone there (at the meeting) and we have agreed to work beyond party politics for the betterment of the airport and I have been elected chairperson to lead on that effort," said Deputy Crowe.

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"A lot of us in the Mid West feel Shannon Airport is quite a political topic - it has been for decades. It matters hugely in this region. It matters what's said and done in Government - it has huge knock-on effects for Shannon and there is a view from us that when it comes to Shannon Airport it is of regional importance and it's time to don the county jerseys as opposed to the political party jerseys and to fight for the betterment of Shannon," the Fianna Fail TD told Clare FM.

A priority of the Group will be to seek continued State funding under the Regional Airports Programme and to also support the development of new routes in commercial aviation and cargo traffic in and out of the airport. 

The terms of reference of the Shannon Airport Cross-Party Group are as follows:

* To maintain a degree of familiarity with the business and activities of Shannon Airport.

* To routinely meet with the Chief Executive of The Shannon Airport Group and/or members of the board of The Shannon Airport Group and/or senior management of The Shannon Airport Group.

* To be advocates for increased business at Shannon Airport.

* To promote, at all opportunities, the use of Shannon Airport for inbound / outbound commercial passenger flights and cargo activities, including new route development.

* To lobby for policies that promote the aviation sector in Shannon, further the cause of Shannon Airport and promote balanced regional development in both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.