EDITORIAL

 

Yet another piece of the jigsaw that should give Shannon Airport and the Mid-West an opportunity for considerable economic growth has fallen into place.

The Government has approved the drafting of the Shannon Aviation Services and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2013, paving the way for the creation of the well-flagged Shannon Group entity.
Minister for Transport and Tourism, Leo Varadkar will refer the Heads of the Bill to the Joint Committee on Transport for their consideration. It is hoped to publish the Bill during the autumn with the expectation of enactment by the end of the year.

Under the Bill, a new State company, Shannon Group plc, will be established and the existing shareholdings held by the Government in both Shannon Development and Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) will be transferred to the new company.
Details of this progress comes as the airport celebrates a turnaround for the better in passenger numbers. The June figures grew for the first time in five years and represented an 8% increase on the same month last year. This is the strongest indicator of Shannon’s changing fortunes since its separation from the Dublin Airport Authority. Things have been improving slowly but surely over the past seven months, with deals forged in respect of airlines and new routes. It is expected that the upturn will continue as the services unfold.

Neil Pakey, the recently appointed CEO of Shannon Airport Authority, will also become chief executive of Shannon Group. Some board members of both Shannon Development and SAA will be appointed to the new company’s board.
The chairman of Shannon Airport Authority Rose Hynes said there are exciting times and opportunities ahead for the new Shannon Group, a view shared by people in key positions across a wide spectrum of business and community interests in the Mid-West. The establishment of the Shannon Group should put an end to the much-despised practice of sucking cash and assets from Shannon Airport to Dublin.
The soon to be finalised restructuring of Shannon Development, ahead of its merger with SAA, is an important element of the changes that lie ahead. Around 25 staff will remain in the re-named Shannon Commercial Enterprises Limited, to manage its property portfolio.

The enterprise and tourism functions of Shannon Development, together with the associated staff, are in the process of transferring to the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.
Reflecting the fact that Shannon Group will have a considerable portfolio of responsibilities, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton made it a double-act in announcing the drafting of the Bill on Tuesday.

Minister Varadkar said, “This is another significant milestone in the restructuring of the State’s assets in Shannon. The changes that we have already made and the further changes that will be facilitated by this Bill when enacted, will serve to drive the economy of the Shannon-Limerick area and the wider national economy.”
It’s stating the obvious but it can’t be repeated often enough – Shannon Airport and all its linked businesses and industries should be supported. Shannon Airport is the region’s golden goose and it must be protected.

President considers abortion bill

President Michael D Higgins is faced with one of the most difficult decisions of his career in public life, on an issue that has been hugely divisive over many years. Will he sign into law the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 or let the Supreme Court rule whether he must append his signature?

President Higgins will need to be blessed with the wisdom of Solomon in making a decision that will have huge implications for Irish society. Independent of all politics, he nevertheless carries a heavy weight on his shoulders in respect of an issue that is highly political.

On Tuesday night, following protracted and often emotive debates in the Dáil and Seanad, senators approved the Bill by a 39 votes to 14 margin. Despite defections in Government parties in both Houses of the Oireachtas, it’s an expected outcome but it’s not the end of the line.

There were many complaints about the short time given to debate the issue in the Seanad and the fact that more than 40 amendments had still to be heard when the final vote was called.
“A very sad day”, anti-abortion campaigners said on the passing of the bill. Others, including Fine Gael TDs and pro-life campaigners, have urged the President to take the Supreme Court option.

President Higgins took the decision on Wednesday to convene a meeting of the Council of State next Monday for the purpose of consulting with it on the Bill. Our Constitution stipulates the President must make a decision within seven days on whether or not to approve the legislation or refer it to the Supreme Court.

Again, the clock is ticking. The Supreme Court would be obliged to hand down its ruling no later than 60 days after the date of referral.
Should the court find the Bill to be “repugnant to the Constitution” it cannot become law but if the Bill is upheld, President Higgins must sign it and its constitutionality can never be challenged. In other words, there is no recourse for appeal on the court’s decision.

Given the complexity of the abortion debate, not withstanding the fact that the Bill passed through the Dáil and Seanad, it would seem fair that every avenue of scrutiny should be explored. The Supreme Court, as the final arbitrator, should deal with the matter.

The only real certainty is no matter what the outcome, the debate on the moral, ethical and medical and legal issues surrounding abortion in any circumstances will continue to rage well into the future.