Varadkar stands over projected passenger numbers for Shannon

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has played down suggestions that projected numbers for Shannon Airport are “fanciful”.

Defending Government plans to separate Shannon from the Dublin Airport Authority, Mr Varadkar said doing nothing would lead only to the airport’s decline.

He was speaking in the Dáil as he brought forward an order setting Dec 31 as the day for separation of Shannon from the DAA.