Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Yes. I do not have detailed information, but I can tell the Deputy that circumstances for all of the airports are difficult. We saw the fall-off in passenger numbers in the past 12 months. Shannon Airport's numbers fell by almost 12% and Cork Airport's fell by 15%. It is a difficult time.

At the time of the proposed separation, Shannon Airport needed investment. The DAA had already invested approximately €40 million in it, but further investment was necessary. The Deputy asked whether it could survive independently. If the airport wants to be independent - this matter will be reviewed next year and we will talk with the DAA - then it must be truly independent. It cannot be independent when making decisions but dependent on the DAA to pay for them. If there is to be independence, it will be true independence. The call that must be made at that point is whether the airport can survive on its own economically or whether it would be better served being part of a two-airport or three-airport company. It is too early to speculate on that question at this stage.

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