I think that most of us mere spotters on the board, as interested observers, "get" the issues regarding the impact myopic government aviation strategy has had on all the airports around the country, not just DUB (and that's before you get into the vagaries of the Irish electoral system and how it handed power to a handful of politicians from the Limerick/Clare region and the SNN lobby) and how that affects the operational attractiveness of the airport.
Dismissing the DAA successfully attracting AI or any other airline to use the Customs/Border facility in DUB or SNN as daft just because it would do nothing more than give the impression of something tangible without any real benefits is to miss one fundamental truth of Irish governance and business management; too often the easy things are done here just to give the impression that things are being done, even if they have little or no real benefit. How many times do we see Irish politicians pointing to some small achievement and "hyping" it up as though it was some great herald of things to come (almost every new job announcement over the last 12 months has apparently signalled that we've turned a corner and the recession is over ... well if we're turning that many corners we're going around in circles!).
The politicians would be very interested in the media opportunities of an AI stop over as an indication of "links" with India or elsewhere, where as two, three or four new EI or FR routes, even if they may produce more jobs in and/or investment into the country don't have the same attractiveness for the politicos.
A longer runway is needed. It's key national infrastructure, like a motorway between two major cities, and so, the costs probably shouldn't be lumped entirely onto the airlines. FR will oppose it, because they have no interest in it, but then, with the wind in the right direction they can get their 738's off 34/16. If Ireland inc. wants to connect directly with the "emerging markets" of South America, or India and points east, then, IMHO, either 28 needs extending or 28R needs building.
JAS