Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Breen for raising this important matter. I will take this motion on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey. The State Airports Act 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon as an independent airport. As part of the airport restructuring process, the board of Shannon Airport is required to prepare a business plan for eventual separation.

In their examination of the plan, the Ministers for Transport and Finance must be satisfied that all three airports have the capacity to operate on a sound commercial basis before giving final approval to the business plans. The agreement of the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, will be central to the conclusion of the business planning processes for Shannon. The Shannon Airport Authority, SAA, has submitted its business plan to the DAA to pave the way for eventual autonomy for Shannon Airport. The Department of Transport has recently received a copy for its information. My colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, understands there will be engagement shortly between the DAA and SAA on the plan's content and he looks forward to hearing the outcome of the DAA-SAA discussion process with a view to making progress on separation in a timely fashion.

Subject to satisfactory progress being made on this plan, the Minister for Transport awaits the DAA's overall considered views on airport separation to enable the plans to be examined by him, together with his colleague, the Minister for Finance.

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