The signing of this Agreement is due recognition to the management of the Shannon Airport Authority for their efforts over a long period to develop cargo business at the Airport – BREEN.

March 12th, 2009 - Pat Breen

Fine Gael’s Deputy Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Clare T.D. Pat Breen has welcomed the news that the Shannon Airport Authority has signed a new deal with the international cargo facility Company Lynxs Group.

“This news is very welcome and I congratulate Martin Moroney, Director and his team at the Shannon Airport Authority for their success in signing a deal with a Group like Lynxs, a cargo facilities company which is headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, but which operates a wide variety of cargo facilities globally with combined ownership of more than 20 air cargo facilities which includes a fleet of over 1450 aircraft leased to 230 airlines in 70 countries right around the world.”

“Shannon Airport has the potential to develop as a major international cargo hub and expanding their cargo operations will compliment the development of other services from the Airport, including the restoration of the Shannon/Heathrow connectivity.”

“Shannon Airport is ideally located and can become a Gateway for Cargo with over 70 US multinational businesses operate here from the Mid-West Region and half of all direct employment provided by US Companies in Ireland is in the West of the Country approx 11,000 people.”

“That is why having the US Customs and Border Protection facility in place by June is essential.” “The signing of this Agreement is due recognition to the management of the Shannon Airport Authority for their efforts over a long period to develop cargo business at the Airport. The Minister for Transport and Marine cannot take any plaudits for this one. When I asked the Transport Minister back on the 5th February 2008 if he had plans to make funding available to develop cargo traffic through Shannon he said it was and I quote “the issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Shannon and Dublin Airport Authorities in which I have no statutory function.”