Waterford Airport.

The Green Party whip is Marc O'Cathasaigh TD from Waterford. He knows how important this is. Are we to inderstand, or are you saying, that neither he nor the moinister's officials would not alert him to the fact that a business plan had been submitted?

I wouldn't overlook the fact that the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance (a Corkman!) and the Minister for State who has responsibility for Transport all spoke very positively regarding the project in December, and the Minister for Finance was even down there for the funding announcement.

In practical terms, a business case of that scale getting lobbed in the week before Christmas was only getting reviewed properly in January. I would imagine that there's a fair bit of detail to work through, and probably queries going back and forth between officials and the airport before the Minister gets a summary of the proposal and a recommendation.

I think the Government will be really hoping to support this thing if they can at all - but you'd also have to be open to the possibility that the business case that went in before Christmas was full of holes.

Matt Shanahan is also being cute here to try and put a bit of pressure on the Greens here when he knows he'll probably be battling the local Green TD for the 4th seat in the next general election which mightn't be too far away.

https://www.facebook.com/MattShanahanTD/videos/402033558975853 Shanhan in the Dail with Ryan

So where does that even leave us if he's refusing to even acknowledge the business case? The airport density issue is a load of bull imo - those flights from ORK/KIR and potentially WAT would still be operating from DUB or SNN otherwise. People won't just not fly cause the airport is a bit of a spin.

...most of our politics is dangerous now, its not just confined to the greens....

Which theyre getting from the state ,

( i know there are rates and property taxes, but its robbing peter to pay Paul )

So the states potentially on the hook for 18 million , and you know it'll over run -

In fairness, it's good to see Wexford and Kilkenny helping to fund this. In hindsight, it's a shame that the airport wasn't built somewhere more central in terms of access from other counties - South Kilkenny would have been better for access from the rest of that county, from Wexford, South Tipp etc. Where it's located is a little less reachable for the rest of the South East than somewhere like South Kilkenny(but no less reachable for most of Waterford). Of course, it's going back a long way now but I think that the issue at the time was that only Waterford was willing to fund the airport so, obviously, that's where it got located. Another example of the South Eastern counties not hanging together, to the cost of all.

Can’t wait to see how our local green TD is going to try get out of this one. Definitely his last leg of being a TD. After Ryan’s statement it’s clear he is biased and does not support WAT

True. But the absolute arrogance of his reply to Matt Shanahan shows his mentality. Yet he has no problem flying off to Brazil for St Patrick’s day the man is a hypocrite. One man and his ideology should not hold back key regional infrastructure.

I don’t hear much from Butler or Cullinane on it. Ryan is clearly biased and this should be highlighted by all parties.

When was the last time Mr Cullinane said anything constructive about anything in Waterford? As for Ms Butler, the less said the better. Very poor TD.

As I previously said, where is this "regional" support that we had for SETU?

We were blue in the face looking at South East politicians posing in group photos in support of SETU.

We were blue in the face of being told how "Waterford needs to get onboard" for the South East.

We heard the likes of Brendan Howlin practically crying on WLR how Waterford better not mess this up.

Where is the same outcry for the Airport? No where as it doesn't deliver a concrete project in neighbouring counties.

The Airport issue highlights that the South East is only a thing when it can pull resources from Waterford.

I’ll repeat this until I’m blue in the face and 6 feet underground, 33 Dails X approximately 20 ministers, taoisigh and tainiste’s = 660. Population of Waterford as a percentage of Ireland’s. Population is 2.4% = 16 minister/ taoisigh. Actual Waterford ministers? 2 (that’s two). Until that changes we will always have no airport, a cathlab that takes 10 years to build, a University that needs 10 buildings in Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford before one is built in Waterford.

It would be frustrating if it wasn’t what I’ve gotten used to over the last 60 years.

What good is an awkward question asker who has no power and will never have any influence or ability to get anything done unless there is a minority government that needs his support in situations like when the Healy Rae’s/Lowry and further back in 80’s Tony Gregory’ propped up FF governments. On their own independent TD’s are worth eff all

...still guarantees of a sf lead government, but i suspect you could be right even if there is, i.e. very little change, worrying stuff really, and its looking like many younger males are flocking to more extreme right corners, so.....