Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be guided by the Chairman if this question is out of order as I know the witnesses are in for a specific reason today. I will throw the question out and if they are not the competent people to answer it, or if I should not be asking it here, the Chairman will tell me. I do not want to be causing trouble. There is a proposal by the regulator to reduce the charge from about €9.50 to €7.50. I know theoretically it is good because if it is passed on to consumers at the end of the day, we will all be saving money. However, there is a concern about the potential impact of that on the ability of the DAA to develop its substantial capital programme as a hub.

There are various reports from Aer Lingus and others on all the positive economic outcomes this can bring to Ireland. If the regulator, which I accept is independent, proceeds with a reduction from, say, €9.50 to €7.50, where will the shortfall be made up for the DAA? Will this strip out its potential to continue with its programme, which we are all in favour of? Will it affect its timelines? Is the Department planning to fill the gap, if there is one, of whatever is not available through the charges with direct subsidisation to facilitate the development of the €2 billion hub?