Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very disappointed with the Minister's response because it is a holding response and does not deal with the core issue. There are three State airports, and one need only look at the structure to see the issue. Cork Airport is at a competitive disadvantage because of the way the Government has structured the three airports in terms of governance and supports to the respective airports. Essentially, there was a reorganisation of Shannon Airport, with Shannon Development, the rental revenues and all of that, but there is no corresponding structure for Cork Airport or any other supporting mechanism in terms of where it stands within the DAA group. That is a fundamental issue with regard to its capacity to offer competitive rates to airlines.

The other key issue is industry. The region is home to some of the biggest names in global technology, from EMC to Apple, and the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. The Minister knows that airline connectivity is a very important factor in terms of the capacity to bring in foreign direct investment. There is huge concern about the continuing decline of the airport's passenger numbers. It is a fine airport which is number one in the world in terms of its customer relations - it has received awards in that regard. However, all of this will have an impact on FDI eventually if we do not have that international and global connectivity. That is a big issue of concern for people in the region, particularly those in industry and business.

It is also important in the context of the country's spatial planning. Everyone is talking about the two-tier economic recovery in the sense that everything is happening in the Dublin region and very little outside it. Our second largest airport is now being essentially undermined and downgraded because of the structures that have been put in place, inadvertently or otherwise - I do not know which. The Minister from Cork, Deputy Coveney, must have been asleep at the table or been considerably out-muscled by other Ministers in this regard, but the outcomes are clear in terms of what is happening on the ground. The airline charges offered by Cork Airport are quite competitive across the European landscape, and I have no difficulty with the position of Shannon and Dublin airports, but when we see the other airport going in the opposite direction, surely that raises alarm bells in the Department and with the Minister which call for action. Does the Minister intend to bring in a route development fund?

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