Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

As soon as the report is available to me, it will be considered. It will become public at some stage thereafter. Mr. Cassells is due to report to me in respect of this matter tomorrow.

All airports are funded through charges levied on passengers. I refer here to landing charges, charges levied by airlines on customers, car park charges, etc. It is not rocket science to state — as did Mr. O'Leary — that consumers and customers will be obliged to pay for the airports. These people use the airports and should pay for them. I do not really know what point Mr. O'Leary was trying to make.

From the point of view of the Government and the State, it is important that the facilities at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports should reflect well on our country. People's first impression is often taken from the airport at which they arrive. In my opinion, everyone agrees that we should have proper facilities in place.

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