Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

That is not strictly true because the DAA is a regulated entity. In that context, the Commission for Aviation Regulation acts in the interests of several different parties, but mainly the stakeholders in and customers of the airport. It has decided on a level of charges it believes to be reasonable from everyone's point of view. This is not quite the same as an open market scenario where the DAA could just decide what it wants to charge and impose increases whenever it desires.

The companies which tendered in respect of this project operate airports in other countries. It was only natural that they should tender for the contract relating to Terminal 2. As already stated in quite diplomatic terms, they did not submit sufficiently robust tenders. In all good conscience, I could not accept tenders that were less than robust.

Deputy Broughan referred to media reports which indicate that certain companies might have an interest in establishing operations at Dublin Airport. Speculation is not helpful and I would prefer not to comment directly in respect of individual companies.

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