The outgoing Mayor of Clare has expressed his disappointment at the Transport Minister’s decision not to grant Clare County Council a seat on the board of the newly independent Shannon Airport.
East Clare representative Pat Hayes, who will relenquish the mayoral chains at Clare County Council’s AGM this afternoon, feels the local authority could have played a key role in ensuring balanced regional development through Shannon.
Minister Leo Varadkar insists he will take local views on board, but has decided not to seek representation from any Council saying this could make the body ‘unweildy’.
The government had previously omitted the council from the steering group and task forces who are overseeing the transition of Shannon to full independence – Councillor Hayes believes this is a mistake.
