Shannon must be prioritised as European Aviation Centre - Naughten

Airport would be ideal for European Air Traffic Control centre
Fine Gael Transport Spokesman Denis Naughten TD has called on Seamus Brennan to use his position as President of the European Transport Ministers to develop Shannon as a major European aviation hub.

Speaking during a Dáil debate on the Air Navigation & Transport Bill 2004, Deputy Naughten said Shannon should be developed as a European Freight Hub and as the base for the proposed centralised European Air Traffic Control centre.

"Ireland's Presidency of the European Union offers a unique opportunity to reshape Europe's transport agenda and at the same time to enhance the development of the West. Transport Minister Seamus Brennan must push for the immediate centralisation of European air traffic control and regulation of the commercial aviation industry to avert incidents such as the midair collision over Switzerland in July 2002. There are two air traffic control providers in North America whereas in Europe there are 57.

Centralisation could also further drive down the cost of air travel, reduce travelling time and increase capacity.
"The ideal location for a European air traffic control centre would be Shannon Airport, which has the most up-to-date and cost-effective equipment. The staff and expertise are already in place and, together with one or two other centres in the EU, could provide the type of service we need now.

"Shannon Airport's under-utilisation is also a huge potential opportunity. The airport could become a European hub for passenger traffic and airfreight, relieving pressure on major hubs like Frankfurt and Heathrow. Major airfreight companies could be attracted to Shannon by providing pre-clearance facilities for the US and Europe. If you link these initiatives with the development of the Western Rail Corridor, I believe it would be a major catalyst for major economic development in the West.

"Given that Shannon Airport is currently under-utilised, and since the Shannon estuary is one of the finest national Harbours in Europe, the Government should consider using these two assets to create a transportation hub linking the US and Europe.

"In terms of maritime trade there is a very strong push by the European Commission to divert traffic from Europe's roads to the seas. "The Commission recently called for a Motorway of the Sea to link Northern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula to ease the pressure on Europe's road infrastructure. The Shannon Estuary could form a hub linking the European Maritime Motorway with trade routes to the US.

"Ireland and the US already do an enormous amount of trade: US exports to Ireland are worth more than $7.7 billion a year making Ireland the US's 21st most important customer, while we export a staggering $16.4 billion and are ranked 14th in terms of nations exporting to the US.

"It's easy to regard these proposals as too ambitious, but Ireland has suffered more from small-scale thinking than from ambitious ideas. If Michael O'Leary can transform the European airline industry I see no reason why Irish Government cannot enhance trade between Europe and the US, while opening up the West of Ireland to new developments."