Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The key point is that some of the companies that tendered are multi-billion dollar companies which run airports throughout the world and have larger budgets than the DAA and better qualified staff. Yet they were excluded from this process on technical grounds. The DAA was never in the race until the race was over, and it got the job without having to undergo proper due process. The authority got a sweetheart deal which facilitated a State monopoly at Dublin Airport to the detriment of consumers. Costs at the airport will be higher as a result. The Minister does not know what the DAA will charge, having given it three months to come up with God knows what figures.

We want competition, choice and reduced costs. Is it not a fact that the whole process was a con job to put the DAA in charge of the airport as a State monopoly, and to put the maximum burden on taxpayers as a result?

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