Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 12 June 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

Impact of Passenger Cap at Dublin Airport on Ryanair's Business and Operations: Ryanair

Photo of Gerard CraughwellGerard Craughwell (Independent)
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When the DAA bought the Q-Park site, I immediately sent an objection to the competition authority. That car park could be opened today. A number of people are willing to lease it pending the final decision on what happens. We have a final decision from the competition authority. Ironically, I was told last week that the DAA is about to lease the car park. I do not understand how it cannot be anti-competitive to lease it and run it if it was anti-competitive to buy it and run it. As I have said to the DAA and will say to its representatives again next week, its primary business is to run an airport. What the hell is it doing involving itself in car parking? That is one of my issues.

Irish Rail officials before the committee a little while ago and I asked about taking a spur line from Swords into the airport. They told us that could be done in two years. Planning and getting planning permission would take one year and it would take another to build it. We are talking about a metro. Mr. O'Leary said it will not happen in his lifetime. I do not believe it will happen in my grandchildren's lifetime. That is my view of it because every twist and turn will be hammered through planning and court hearings. Why not use the Swords spur? Why not have a circular spur going in and out from Swords to the airport? It makes perfect sense to me. You get a train from the city centre straight to Swords.