Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

To some extent the Minister has answered my question, but not quite all of it. Does he agree that numbers are growing at an alarming rate at Dublin Airport? In 2004, 17.4 million passengers went through the airport, an increase of 8% on the previous year and 350% on 1990 when the figure was approximately five million. Dublin has one of the fastest growing airports in Europe. There are two solutions. I am glad that the Minister agrees a second terminal is needed while indicating it may be coming on stream shortly.

Has the Government considered opening the airport at Baldonnel to commercial or passenger traffic. That would take much of the pressure off the north side of County Dublin. It is adjacent to the M50 motorway and it would make sense. Rather than channelling 17.5 million passengers through north County Dublin every year, it would make much sense to consider opening Baldonnel to commercial traffic.

If a second terminal is opened at Dublin Airport, will it be an independently owned airport or a mixture of State and private ownership?

See this speech in context