Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The last part of the reply seems to indicate that the Minister would consider selling off the Dublin Airport Authority given certain guarantees on regulation. An article by Pat Leahy in The Sunday Business Post dated 13 June states that proposals for a broad asset sale are being drawn up in the Department of Finance without being discussed by the relevant Ministers. Is the Minister aware of any such report or has he read the article? If he has, what are his views on it? Serious issues arise about the Dublin Airport Authority, its monopoly and the fact that it has three airports under its wing. It has been suggested that they ought to be independent of the DAA. I would appreciate the Minister's answer to those questions, especially whether he is aware of the report, has read it or if he has been consulted on it.

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