Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

The former Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, gave an unequivocal pledge that Dublin Airport would take on the debts of Shannon and Cork airports. He stated that the major regional airports would begin life as independent and debt-free entities. Spelling out Government policy, he emphasised that the Dublin Airport Authority, the country's biggest and most profitable operation, would pick up the bill for Shannon and Cork, counterbalancing this by selling off the Great Southern Hotels Group, a national asset which yielded €260 million for the Dublin Airport Authority. Since then, however, Deputy Cullen has taken over the Transport portfolio and the Brennan promise has been torn up. That seems to be what it is like. There is no longer Cabinet responsibility; it is now the individual Minister's responsibility.

The coalition's clear message for those in the mid-west and southern region is that Dublin comes first and foremost. The Government yesterday approved the payment of €600 million to buy out the West Link toll bridge.

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