Editorial: Waterford Airport showdown

Waterford Airport, the historic home of Ryanair's first international flight, has always had ambitions. When disaster struck in the form of the recession, and a loss of carriers such as Aer Arann and Flybe, it went back to the drawing board and examined the best way to properly secure and grow passenger services from the South East. 

The decision was made to extend the runway, to bring it up to the standard of competitive regional airports, such as Knock in Co. Mayo, which has recently added more passenger routes to European cities to its offering. 

Investors were secured for Waterford Airport and planning permission was sought and approved. Determined to make sure they were firing on all cylinders, the local authorities of neighbouring counties were brought into the mix. This was a business plan, not just for Waterford, but for the entire South East, with Wexford and Kilkenny's county councils also committing funding, alongside a very strong funding commitment from Waterford City and County Council.

The investors - the Bolster Group and the Comer Brothers - have an established track record in business. Fast forward from when planning was secured, an updated business case has now passed through the Department of Transport, has been appraised, and now lies on the desks of Minister Eamon Ryan (Green Party) and Minister of State James Lawless (Fianna Fáil). 

A parliamentary question from Independent TD Matt Shanahan saw a distinct picture emerge on Thursday, with Minister Lawless making no bones about where he stood on the matter. Waterford Airport and its business case was no more than a 'pig in a poke'.

It doesn't really matter how many times the Department dropped an updated statement from Minister Lawless into the inboxes of media editors over the weekend, his views had been made plain. His 'weaknesses' in the business case were a mere clutching at straws - citing no passenger activity since the loss of the turbo-prop carriers from Waterford as a result of the recession. He made no mention of the fact that as Waterford Airport was progressing a business plan, that included the construction of an extended runway, it was not possible to simultaneously enter such contracts with turbo-prop passenger carriers. 

Waterford Airport's vision was bigger than that because it had experienced the ramifications of being curtailed by its runway and the limitations of smaller turbo-prop carriers to compete in the industry in the past.

Politics is being shown in all its colours in this fiasco - both the Green Party and Fianna Fáil are revealing a lack of commitment to this crucial investment for Waterford and the South East. Senator John Cummins of Fine Gael says that he will be seeking the inclusion of Waterford Airport in the next programme for government. Senator Cummins, however, is also currently 'in government'. All governing parties are party to this decision to withhold support for the progress of Waterford Airport and the South East. This is highly unlikely to change after a general election.

If Waterford Airport - and the government has dallied long enough - is to be given the backing its business case merits it needs to happen now - not tomorrow, not next year, not next government.

Waterford Chamber has indicated that the corridors of power are still open to discussion. We will watch this space.