Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will outline my beef first and then my question will make perfect sense. A decision has been made in respect of one airport but there have been no decisions in respect of other airports. A substantial financial decision has been made which, on the face of it, will skew competition for airports such as Knock and is not responsible.

Does the Department view the airport as being disadvantaged? It has pawned it off with the statement that it is a private airport but is it acknowledging that the airport will be disadvantaged arising from this? How does the Department propose to level the playing field and how would the delegation describe the engagement the airport has had with the Department? We have reached a crucial point when the chairman of the airport is appearing before a joint Oireachtas committee describing the airport's situation. Mr. Gilmore was cut off in the middle of his answer about Government support for the airport and the figure of €44 million given earlier in the week. Could there be some confusion in respect of the PSO contracts in that some of the money given to and received by airlines is being attributed as being received by the airport?