Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate that the Deputy, like every other Member of the House, is representing his constituency. As already stated, we will engage in discussions with Mr. O'Leary on this matter in a matter of minutes. It is important to reiterate that Aer Lingus has a 20 year entitlement to hangar 6. The legalities of that, the leases and licences, have been examined. Deputy Kennedy is correct to state there would be a 12 month cancellation period if Aer Lingus was of the view that it should sub-lease through the DAA. I indicated through the Minister for Transport, his Department officials and the DAA that Aer Lingus has indicated that the hangar is intrinsically part of consolidating its presence at Dublin Airport, having all of its crew operations together, saving money and solidifying its business. That is why I state that although this House has given the DAA a legal mandate as a commercial semi-State body, as it has to Aer Lingus, I will do all I can to try to deal with the impasse of a lack of conversation between the DAA and Mr. O'Leary. That can be done through my offices or through a third party, the IDA. However, we continue to have a difficulty in that Mr. O'Leary's view is that the only option is hangar 6. I will put forward the view that alternatives can be provided, as I outlined to Members of the House over the past while.

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