*Shannon Airport.
MAKING SHANNON AIRPORT a national technology testing hub “presents huge potential” for both the Airport and Mid-West region, a Clare councillor has said.
In a proposal before Clare County Council, Cllr David Griffin (FF) called on the local authority to engage with both the Shannon Airport Group and the Department of Transport “to ensure we maximise the potential of the programme for Government commitment that Shannon Airport become a national technology testing hub”.
As part of the aviation section in the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to develop a national sustainable aviation fuel policy roadmap and to Shannon Airport as a hub for testing new aviation technologies. The document also plans to conduct a review of the National Aviation Policy “to maximise use of our airports in the regions including Donegal, Ireland West (Knock), Shannon, Cork and Kerry”.
Speaking at this month’s sitting of the Council, Cllr Griffin referenced these commitments of his own party. “This presents huge potential for airport and the wider Mid-West region, Shannon Airport has always been to the fore,” he said while listing out several firsts including the first stop-over, the first European airport to offer customs, the inception of the duty-free under the eye of Brendan O’Regan and how he spearheaded the introduction of economic development zones.
“We’re onto a new phase of development, it is very encouraging to see a national focus on Shannon and sustainable aviation fuel, utilising AI and drones, we are on the cusp of a huge advancement,” the Newmarket-on-Fergus native stated.
Tech-specific work is already ongoing in the Shannon Free Zone, Cllr Griffin flagged. “We already have cutting edge engineering and tech companies looking at the Shannon Industrial Estate including Jaguar and Future Mobility Campus Ireland”. He said green fuel’s potential was also examined by the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce. “This could be a huge investment in the Industrial Estate,” he commented.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) prasied the commitment of Cllr Griffin to Shannon Airport, “he is a young new councillor, he has the vigour to ensure Shannon continues to grow into a new world paradigm which will come into the future. I know your predecessor Cllr McMahon would always remind us to mention Shannon is an International Airport”.
Flights from Shannon to Heathrow have operated with bio-fuel for the last eighteen months, Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) highlighted, “the transition to bio-fuels has already started”. “I am delighted to support my colleague, it is well researched,” said Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF).
Cllr Griffin admitted, “I wasn’t aware they were operating bio-fuels”. He continued, “These are jobs we want, they will be high end and well paid”.
