Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputy Creed. The issue I raise arises from the decision by a former Minister for Transport, Deputy Seamus Brennan, to break up Aer Rianta into three airport authorities, namely, Dublin, Cork and Shannon. At the time, the then Minister stated on a visit to Cork:

When I establish the independent Shannon and Cork authorities on a statutory basis they will both commence business free of debt. The existing debts associated with both airports, including the debt associated with the major new investment programme at Cork will not be assigned to the new companies but will remain with Dublin Airport.

At the time the Minister also stated, "Given the strong growth at Dublin, the overall scale of operations there and the reality of the present situation, I do not feel that absorbing the debts for Shannon and Cork would place an unreasonable additional burden on Dublin."

It is a different situation today. There has been no movement on the proposed separation of the three airport authorities, no move on the independence of Cork Airport and obfuscation and denial by the Government on the debt issue. Despite continual pressing from Members of this House, local public representatives, the chamber of commerce in Cork and the Cork Airport Authority, the Government still refuses to commit to the debt free status that was originally promised. The Government has been hiding behind consultants' reports instigated by the Dublin Airport Authority, the Cork Airport Authority and the Government itself but there has been no resolution of the issue.

This was everybody's favourite issue before the election, whether one was in Opposition, a member of the governing parties or the leader of the Green Party. As reported in the media, the former leader of the Green Party, Deputy Trevor Sargent, signed a pledge in Cork stating he would commit to ensuring that Cork Airport would be independent and debt free. We were told the programme for Government would contain a commitment to ensuring Cork Airport's debt free independent status but there is no sign of it. The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Sargent, should explain to the House exactly where he stands on this issue. He should explain how he was able to sign a pledge as leader of the party when in Opposition but now, when he has led his party into Government and seconded the nomination for Taoiseach last week, we see no sign of that commitment in the programme for Government.

This is a serious matter. The airport has been open for 12 months but there has been no resolution to the debt issue. Nobody knows who is paying for the airport because it has not been made clear. Morale is very low at the airport. The Cork Airport Authority refuses to accept anything other than debt free status. We need a resolution of this issue, which is very important for Cork Airport but even more important for the Cork region. Without a viable airport, the region has no future. I look forward to the Minister's response on the matter.

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