Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-08
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Gareth Scahill (FG), Nominated by the Taoiseach

I want to speak on the amendment relating to a report on regional development. Supporting this Bill should not in any way be interpreted as going against balanced regional development or supporting our regional airports. Like a lot of rural representatives in this House, I have regularly spoken about Shannon, Cork, Knock, Donegal and Kerry airports and how important their role is in bringing people, business and industry to our country. They support tourism, indigenous enterprise, inward investment and employment throughout the country. They should continue to get strong Government support in that regard.
Rather than creating another section within this Bill, I would look at a refreshed national aviation strategy which would ensure that regional connectivity remains a priority. I could not associate myself with any Bill if I thought it referred to or if there was any insinuation of consolidation around one airport. That is not what we are trying to do here. Strengthening our regional airports should not come at the expense of Dublin Airport. That is the long and the short of it. They are not competing factors. Ireland needs a strong national hub to thrive and to assist our regional airports. This Bill is ambitious. The Minister is ambitious for it. We should allow it and our airports to flourish with it.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-08/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:10+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-08