David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Allen for allowing me to share time. I support him and congratulate him on raising this issue. I wish to stress the importance of the airport, not just for the city but for the county and the wider Munster region. I, too, was at the meeting of the South West Regional Authority which was very well attended and where huge concern was expressed about the doubt regarding the debt and the burden it would place on the development and future operation of the airport. I call on the Minister to clarify the situation and to state clearly where the airport stands. It will be very difficult for the airport to format a business plan with this uncertainty hanging over it. Dublin and Shannon airports are way ahead in terms of development. Cork Airport is only catching up at this stage.

I was concerned initially when I heard about the break-up of Aer Rianta as to how future development would be financed because the airport has reached capacity. I do not know how management copes with the small terminal, which it has done up to now. Further development will be required. The area is expanding and it is important for the country as a whole that this happens because it will act as a counter-balance to Dublin. We know the problems Dublin has with traffic congestion and so on. Cork Airport is extremely important to the development of the area.

Promises were made and they should be kept. Cork Airport should be allowed to start debt-free and to move on from there. I am confident that if this were the case it would develop in a positive way in the future but I am worried that if the debt is imposed it would stifle growth and, as Deputy Allen has said, perhaps lead to the airport going into decline. We cannot allow this to happen.

I urge the Minister to clarify the situation about the future of Cork Airport in clear and unambiguous terms.

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