by Gordon DeeganAn Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar said today that he “is absolutely certain” that it was the right Government decision to give Shannon airport its independence. Speaking at a Shannon Chamber of Commerce event at Dromoland Castle this afternoon, Mr Varadkar said that passenger numbers at Shannon airport have increased from 1.4m to 1.7m per annum since the airport secured independence in January 2013. In his address, Mr Varadkar stated: “I am absolutely certain that it was the right decision to separate Shannon from the other airports and give its independence but I am also absolutely certain that we are only getting started and there is so much more that can be done to develop the area.”Mr Varadkar said that the move to independence has rekindled the pioneering spirit at Shannon. Mr Varadkar said that in 2012, there were 40 aviation related companies employing 1,600 in Shannon and this has grown today to 55 companies employing 2,500. Our view is that tax is a national competence and national Governments should set national taxes."

Source: Evening echo January 20, 2018 15:45 UTC