The new €83 million air traffic control system, which will handle almost 90 per cent of all traffic between Europe and North America from 2006, was opened by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, in Shannon, Co Clare, yesterday.
Air traffic controllers at Ballycasey, the townland which is the hub of the new system, are already handling a fleet of over 1,200 large jet aircraft which fly through Irish airspace every day, carrying about 50 million passengers each year.
The system is part of a €115 million investment in buildings and air traffic control systems spread between Shannon and Dublin.
Known as CAIRDE 2000, it is part of the Irish Aviation Authority's (IAA) programme to upgrade the State's air services to the most advanced levels in Europe.
However, the Dublin end of the system failed when it assumed complete control for Dublin air traffic last May.
The new system was operating on a "complete control" basis for the first time, having assumed responsibility for all aircraft movements at Dublin Airport from about 4 p.m. on a Saturday evening.
Just after 11 a.m. the next day, it failed to identify aircraft on controllers' radar screens. It was one of the busiest mornings at the airport so far this year, with 70,000 people travelling.
The aviation authority has acknowledged that some air traffic controllers had expressed reservations about the introduction of the system but a spokeswoman said yesterday that extra training on the new system had been provided for staff.
Spokeswoman Ms Lillian Cassin described the failure as a "glitch" and said the system has operated flawlessly since.
The €83 million investment in Shannon includes a €24 million building and the entire project was fully financed by the IAA from its own resources.
Speaking in Shannon yesterday, Mr Brennan said: "CAIRDE 2000 strengthens the IAA's position as an international air navigation services provider. The aviation industry is undergoing a period of immense change and the need for modern, reliable and integrated ATC systems is now greater than ever. I commend the IAA on this important achievement."
Mr Brennan added: "The Minister for Finance is particularly delighted that this project was funded entirely from your own resources."
IAA chairman Mr Donal Geaney said the authority employed almost 350 people in the Shannon region, including air traffic controllers, radio officers, engineers and administration staff.
In January 2006, Shannon-controlled airspace will increase by nearly 100,000 square kilometres to almost 500,000 square kilometres following an agreement between the Irish and British Departments of Transport.
Airlines pay the IAA for air traffic control and communications services and this accounts for over 80 per cent of the IAA's revenue.
The Minister said he was also prioritising investment in roads and transport in the mid-west region so as to "further improve the infrastructural support that Shannon and the mid-west region requires to improve access and so grow the airport, passenger numbers and jobs."
