Results 241-260 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: ——or a fully fledged board at Shannon Airport committed to its interests? The best people to deal with those threats to Shannon Airport's operations are those from the region and not some memorandum from Dublin that notes its difficulties.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The chairman designate claims he can double the number of passengers to 4 million. He and his board have investigated low-cost transatlantic travel and Shannon becoming a freight hub for east-west transit.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: They have spoken about creating jobs at Shannon Airport by introducing more routes to the UK and USA. Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Aviation Authority will relocate to Shannon. Investment in the Shannon-Galway road, the Ennis by-pass, the second river crossing and the rail link will help build up the airport. Is it best practice for a group of people sitting around a board table in Dublin...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: "Shadowy figures" and "who is behind who" have been referred to in the debate on my motivation for this legislation.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: In my 25 years in public life I have only worked for the people and not any shadowy figures. My motivation is simple. I want more passengers for Cork and Shannon Airports, for them to develop and more jobs to be created. I want freedom for Cork and Shannon Airports and for the mid-west region to continue to grow with the kind of enterprise and vision fostered in the early days by Sean Lemass....

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: We have disagreed many times. She is fully entitled to tell me that I am an eejit——

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: ——that I am getting it wrong, that I have only acted on a hunch, that the Bill is imperfect.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: She will also allow me to say that if she disagrees with my policy I am entitled to disagree with hers. Her policy in response to a parliamentary question on 10 May 2001 was: I concur with the view that private sector participation in Aer Rianta would be in the best interests of the company, in terms of addressing its funding needs in the long term.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I speak with full respect.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The Leader of the House was entitled to disagree with me and she did. I am entitled to disagree with that direction because it leads to private ownership. Private owners sitting at a table in Dublin would build houses on Shannon Airport. No group of private investors in Dublin Airport would stand over Shannon Airport for the future. They would flog it off, as they might do also with Cork...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have a letter——

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I am just finished. There was a letter some time ago from the company which states, regarding the possible sale of one third of Aer Rianta to a large international bank, that it might be worth considering it further when with a minimum of fuss it could provide €1 billion for the Exchequer. I did not like that policy then and I do not like it now.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: It is from Aer Rianta to the Department of Transport. I have made it clear that I do not like that policy. I thank the Leader of the Seanad for insisting that we give this debate six hours. She was right about that. I have enjoyed the six hours. I thank the Cathaoirleach and everyone on all sides in the Seanad.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: In accordance with Standing Order 121, I request the Cathaoirleach to direct the clerk to correct two misprints in the Bill. One is to delete a comma after "amend" in page 5, line 25, and in page 23, line 10, "persons" should read "person". They are technical corrections.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Amendment No. 1 seeks to delay commencement of the Bill and the establishment of the boards for the three airports. I would have a difficulty accepting the amendment as it would affect policy. Amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 4 would have the effect——

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I would have difficulty accepting the amendment as this provision is a fundamental part of the legislation. Senator Quinn put the case well. Responsibility for preparation of the business plans must rest with those required to carry out the job.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: In reply to Senator McDowell, there will be a memo and articles of association. This will lay out the purpose, objectives and aims of the plc, which will be Shannon, Cork and Dublin. This is the normal aims and objectives aspect of any company. On the business strategy, the board will have to devise this itself. They are aware in Shannon that the EU-USA open skies policy talks are a backdrop....

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Section 8 makes it clear that the boards shall discuss between them what Shannon and Cork shall do on behalf of Dublin in the interim period, pending the 30 April deadline. I do not envisage a serious issue arising which would cause the kind of difficulty to which the Senator referred. The legislation makes clear who owns what until 30 April, when another trigger may arise.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I cannot say much more on the ARI issue. My preference has always been to acknowledge that the ARI headquarters should be in Shannon, which was the driving force behind the ARI success. I have expressed time and time again my wish that this is where it should remain. As a result of company law regulations, which are copperfastened by EU regulations — the Senator will be aware of this aspect...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The viability of the airport depends first on airport activity. It needs to attract airlines and passengers and raise the numbers from 2 million to 4 million. That is ultimately how the airport will remain viable. These other issues are business issues that support the balance sheet. I would not like to say that any one element is vital because the core requirement is to expand the business...