Mr. Basil Geoghegan:

I will try to get through Deputy Troy's points in order. On what has happened in recent years regarding the choice of regulator, I understand that different advice was given and that there was a conflict with the IAA and so on. I am aware of the issue from the outside, not from the inside. Obviously, I have also read what has gone on at meetings of this committee and the questions that have been asked. From my perspective, what is now most important is how we move forward from the point at which I take over as chair. I understand that there is a significant cross-departmental effort to move the primary legislation forward and that the intention is to have it enacted by the end of the year. What is equally important, but which grabs fewer headlines than primary legislation, is the statutory instrument that would enable Fingal County Council to be set up as noise regulator and to carry out all the work it needs to do in terms of funding, personnel, expertise and all of the usual things that a regulator needs to do. From the time I have spent on the board of the IAA, I have seen that running a regulator is not an inconsequential matter, particularly if one has not done so before. This one is being started ab initio. That is my understanding at the moment.

I will also answer the Deputy's final question. I have not yet had a meeting with the Minister to discuss what the next steps are with regard to the runway. I expect that will happen shortly. Obviously, I have been in contact with him and his officials regarding a number of matters. I understand that he will also give me my mandate when I am appointed as chairman. I have no doubt that is number one on the priority list. That is where I am on that.

On the third terminal, Departments can cover many issues and I understand that the runway is one, that what happens in the context of the terminal is another and that there are many other issues which will be before the Department. In respect of the third terminal, the question of whether one is needed is interesting. On the other hand, it is not really about terminals. The issues at Dublin Airport, other than building a new runway, are actually stands, gates, taxiways, and the ability to move aircraft around efficiently. That actually has very little to do with a terminal. A terminal is where people arrive, get processed and move through. In fact, using terminal capacity in the correct sense of the term, there is a huge amount of terminal capacity at Dublin Airport. As I said, it is more about the infrastructure of stands, gates and taxiways. That is important.

I agree with the Deputy that the issue of aviation after Brexit is incredibly complex. It is not just about the ability to fly under the EU Open Skies agreement, but the regulation of those flights through the European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, which has knock-on effects in the context of insurance and many other things. The negotiations are being run at an EU level. I am not aware of any but, equally, I have not asked the Department what special thought is being given to Ireland. I am clearly aware that there are issues from an air traffic control perspective because we share a functional airspace block with the UK. There are many issues relating to Brexit which are unclear because there has not been that much progress in those negotiations over the past two years. As I find out more, I will be very happy to discuss the point further. It is a very important point.

The Deputy asked about Cork Airport. I do not think that Cork is restricted in competing due to it being part of the larger DAA. It is interesting that the charges at Cork Airport have been flat for more than ten years. Indeed, Cork Airport is also able to offer pretty attractive reduced charges to airlines that want to start there. Over the first five years of a route being in place, the airport is able to offer very good fees. Some of that is evident in the fact that there has been growth at Cork Airport in the past two years. It has grown by approximately 11%. It has an incredibly good terminal building. It feels very good to go through it as a passenger. An airport does not exist on its own but as part of a community. There is a big effort on behalf of the DAA, with the local Cork management team, the development council around the airport and with local people in the region - both people in the community and business people - to try to drive traffic through the airport. We are absolutely focused on doing that. Cork is the second biggest airport in the State. That cannot be gainsaid.

Finally, on conflicts, in my business we have always had to address conflicts ranging from who should be advised to where there may be conflicts with other parts of the business. We would never accept any business which would put either us as a firm or any member of the firm in a conflicted position. We would absolutely address that.