Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Nor will the DAA, but it is financing its operations out of its own pocket. The taxpayer has not paid for anything at Dublin Airport.

The principle of the separation of airports outlined in the relevant Act still remains as Government policy. It is subject to review in 2011, but it is the principle on which we are operating at the moment. Probably the fairest way to say it is that this is the default position. In 2011, a final decision will be made, but we are looking at the situation from the point of view of three separate airports.

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