Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

Cork is now to be lumbered with a debt of €100 million by this Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats Government, despite its specific earlier commitments to establish the independence of Cork Airport on a debt-free basis. The Minister, Deputy Cullen, has attempted to justify this action, which has been described as a U-turn but which I describe as just an appalling breach of trust with the people of Cork.

On top of that attempt at justification and to rub salt into the wounds of the people of Cork, today the Minister has announced the diversion of airport funding of €22.3 million to an airport in his own constituency. I have no problem with him spending taxpayers' money in Waterford, which has claims of its own. However, it is a supreme irony for this Minister to rob the people of Cork of the €100 million that they were promised on the same day he is spending €22.3 million on the airport in his own constituency.

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