Ireland South MEP, and member of the EU Transport Committee, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, says she will make the case for Waterford Airport when she has a one on one meeting this evening with EU President Ursula Von Der Leyen in Strasbourg.
The Fianna Fáil MEP says one of the first issues she will raise with the EU President is support for Waterford Airport.
Ms Ni Mhurchu says the EU Commission has "prioritised investment in rail infrastructure on mainland Europe at the expense of regional airports across the EU".
“In light of the green agenda, there has been an overall reluctance by the European Commission to invest in our regional airports. This disproportionately impacts on an island like Ireland where air connectivity is vital for our rural economy," she said.
"I will stress to Ms Von Der Leyen that Ireland is a special case when it comes to investing in regional airports given that we are a predominantly rural island on the periphery of Europe.”
Ní Mhurchú again criticised Transport Minister Eamon Ryan for "dragging his heels" on the reopening of Waterford Airport, and claimed he is "holding the people of the South East to ransom on ideological grounds".
“I am calling on Minister Ryan to progress the investment that is on the table at Waterford Airport," she added.
"Ryanair have expressed an interest in operating from Waterford Airport and now is the time to strike as Dublin Airport is turning away flights. It may be his last action in office! A newly reopened Waterford Airport could benefit from this crisis at Dublin. The keys to the airport are in the hands of Minister Ryan but he just isn’t interested.”
Ní Mhurchú is due to meet with management of Ryanair next week where she says she will again raise the issue of flights to and from Waterford Airport.
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