Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

The former Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, clearly indicated that the construction costs of the new terminal at Cork Airport would not be a burden on the new Cork Airport Authority. In recent weeks, however, there is much concern that the Government is planning a U-turn on this commitment that could leave Cork Airport saddled with up to a €200 million debt, leaving the new authority with a severe financial burden. Despite these reports, no official explanation has been forthcoming from either the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, or the Taoiseach. We have been informed, however, that a mediator has been appointed by the Minister to deal with this issue even though we have not been given the terms of reference to which he or she will work.

An emergency meeting of the south-west regional authority airport consultative committee was held last Friday to discuss the former Minister's commitment, given in writing in late 2003. That commitment was that Cork Airport would be fully developed and that it would be debt-free. However, the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who is in the House this evening, at that meeting claimed that the former Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, may have made a mistake in promising that the new airport authority would start its independent operations without debt.

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