‘Positive’ meeting between airport board and Government

‘Positive’ meeting between airport board and Government


Neill O’Neill
neilloneill@mayonews.ie

THE Board of Trustees of Knock Airport hosted An Taoiseach, Mayo’s three other  Government TDs and the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, yesterday (Monday), for a meeting lasting almost three hours, that was described as ‘very positive’.
Minister of State Michael Ring said that both sides put their position on the table and added that there was a lot of positivity, and that everyone will try to work together to find a solution to the problems currently being faced at Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK).
The debate about the future of Knock Airport has been in the news recently, following a Government decision to change its policy towards Shannon Airport, which the management of IWAK felt put it, in competitive terms, at an unfair disadvantage.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny along with deputies Michelle Mulhern and John O’Mahony were also in attendance at the meeting, on a subject that has been a major talking point round the county in recent months.
Earlier this month the majority of Mayo’s 31 county councillors also attended a meeting at the airport, at which the board also outlined its fears for the future.
“There is a lot of work to be done and though we must work within state and EU guidelines, we will support the airport in whatever way possible,” Minister Ring said, adding “it was a private meeting but I can say that following on from it we will all be looking at ways and means, from across the region, as to how IWAK can be supported.”
All of the Board of the airport were in attendance at the meeting, except Archbishop of Tuam Dr Michael Neary, who it is believed is currently in Rome on Church business.
“The Board made their points very strongly, and the Government made theirs, and sitting down face to face and talking is a better way to do business,” Minister Ring concluded.

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