MEPs representing the various political groupings from the Transport and Tourism committee of the European Parliament are in Ireland this week to discuss transport related infrastructure in Ireland.

They visited  Cork Airport and gained an insight into a regional airport and how essential it is for investment and Tourism for the region.

The visit to Dublin Airport will provide an opportunity to understand why a record-breaking 29.6 million passengers travelled through Dublin Airport last year. This 6% increase in passenger numbers reflecting the seventh consecutive year of growth at Dublin Airport.

Brexit will present unique challenges for Ireland´s connectivity. The challenges to air connectivity will be outlined and options to ensure continuity and connectivity in this area will be discussed. Around 90% of North Atlantic traffic passes through Irish or UK airspace.

The delegation will visit the Port of Cork and receive a briefing on planned developments at the Port which, as a Port of National Significance, is included on the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) a series of designated corridors designed to better connect EU countries.

As an Island nation on the edge of Europe, peripherality and the need to overcome such disadvantages is paramount, particularly as the UK is a very important land bridge from Ireland to the European mainland, the challenges posed to this by Brexit will be underlined.

As part of its Tourism remit the delegation will visit the recently opened Waterford/Deise greenway, a perfect example of how investment in tourism products in rural areas can provide economic and social benefits for those communities.

Other items of interest to the delegation will be environmental emissions from Transport and how Ireland is addressing the projected increase in emissions in this area through implementation of the renewable energy directive, and encouraging the rollout of electric vehicles. One topic for discussion will be about the required infrastructure for electro-mobility both in our cities and regions and also about how we can encourage the procurement of low-emissions vehicles for our public transport.

Delighted to welcome a delegation, Member of the European Parliament, Deirdre Clune said: "I am delighted that this delegation from the European Parliament´s Transport and Tourism Committee, led by the Chairperson Wim Van de Camp, Netherlands, has decided to visit Ireland. It is an opportunity to outline the benefits of EU investments in connectivity to and from our country that has underpinned our economic development. It is also timely with the UK planning to leave the EU in 12 months to demonstrate how a member state that will be geographically isolated can be supported into the future".