Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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-----what is in the planning application that is before the county council and what is not, what is before ANCA, that body's decision and what is before the courts. I find it extraordinary. I have only been appointed to this committee for a few weeks, but I do find it extraordinary that we are having this conversation in this context. I am baffled that we are here talking about stuff we are clearly not informed about. I think it is the role of the committee and that of Mr. O'Leary to know and to put facts before this committee.

There are loads of opinions, and I am sure that some of them have a foundation, but I am really struggling with this discussion from the perspective of having a disagreement in respect of what was referred to as being forgone and lost. Sure, I understand the point, but it is not there, so you cannot lose it. It is something the airport, the Irish people and Mr. O'Leary's airline are not able to realise. Therefore, it is not possible to realise the profit associated with it and the public is not able to realise the use of the slots. There must, however, always be regulatory decisions. I repeat what I said earlier in relation to the capacity of the Minister or the Government to intervene and, like that, change the decision of An Bord Pleanála, the highest planning authority in the country. The Minister cannot do it. Is this unfortunate? Sure. Is there something we can do from a legislative perspective? Yes, there is. Would it be immediately challenged, however? Yes, it would. I can think of four different people straight away who are resourced and motivated to appeal such legislation. It would probably even go all the way to Europe, just to, and please excuse the expression, wind us all up. I think Mr. O'Leary knows this too.

What we should really be talking about are the immediate things we can do and the solutions we can implement now. Returning to the point made by Senator Craughwell concerning Q-Park, the car-parking scenario and the use of the fields, that is, land owned by the DAA, it is not possible to tarmac it and use it as a car park without planning permission. It is just not possible to do so. Not only can it not be done by a private citizen, but it absolutely cannot be done by a semi-State commercial body. Again, therefore, lots of stuff is being thrown out there and I find it very difficult to sit here and not say something about it. I sat quietly while everyone else made their contributions but I do think it would be helpful if this committee based itself in fact and tried to stay based in fact throughout the whole process. It is not a question and I do not require a response.