Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The Deputy's question refers to the report on the ownership and management of Cork and Shannon airports, whether I intend to publish the report and if I have plans to amend legislation to give effect to the proposals arising from the report.

The report was undertaken by consultants at my request to provide me with wide-ranging advice on all possible options for the future ownership and operation of Cork and Shannon airports in order that I can propose informed recommendations to the Government. The Deputy will be aware that in 2008, my predecessor as Minister for Transport postponed until 2011 making a decision on the separation of Cork and Shannon airports as envisaged under the State Airports Act 2004. It is thus falls on me to consider the future of these two State-owned airports. I consulted Dublin, Cork and Shannon airport authorities on this question and their unanimous view is that there is no support for separation as originally envisaged. As a result, I sought consultancy advice on the way forward for the two airports. I asked the consultants to consult as widely as possible with stakeholders in Cork and Shannon on sustainable options for the two airports.

I received the consultants' report in December and I am currently considering their analysis and recommendations. I intend to bring proposals to the Government as soon as possible. As the report contains commercially sensitive information, much of which was provided on a confidential basis, it will not be possible to publish the report in full. However, I will publish a redacted version in due course. In the context of bringing forward proposals for the two airports, I will take account of the need for legislative changes.

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