Results 281-300 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

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

Séamus Brennan: Senator McDowell is quite correct and his explanation makes me twice as pleased that the legislation is as it is. If the Dublin Airport authority were to behave somewhat neglectfully towards Cork or Shannon Airports or have them lose out in certain carve-ups and so on, the Minister should intervene and reiterate that although Dublin is the big player, Cork and Shannon must be treated fairly...

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

Séamus Brennan: Amendment No. 15 relates to sections 7(8) and 8(17), which provide that the cost of the restructuring will be paid by Aer Rianta or the Dublin Airport authority unless otherwise paid by the Minister. The effect of this amendment would be to render all costs payable by the Exchequer. The Minister for Finance and I are in full agreement that the Exchequer will not pay substantial sums in...

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

Séamus Brennan: It is not just my idea; it was a decision reached by the Government after a year of discussion. The minor costs which the Minister must pay include those relating to the issue share capital of a public limited company, for example. Those types of pre-incorporation costs must all be borne by the Minister. Once the airport authorities are fully incorporated and the boards legally in office, any...

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

Séamus Brennan: I am dealing with amendments Nos. 17, 21, 22, 23, 48 and 49. Paragraphs (i) and (ii) of amendment No. 17 provides that the Minister shall lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas or appear before an Oireachtas committee. I am always available to appear before Oireachtas committees whenever I am required to do so to discuss any issue within my portfolio. We do not need to change an...

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

Séamus Brennan: Will the Senator tell us how often he gets letters from constituents indicating they have no problem? I do not get too many of those. I get letters telling me they are experiencing problems but they do not write to tell me that everything is grand. I spelt out the position clearly yesterday. Everybody in the financial sector in this country must now know about this issue. It has been in the...

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

Séamus Brennan: I understand that Aer Rianta is in touch with all of its lenders. It has supplied them with copies of the legislation and kept them briefed on its progress. It is a matter for Aer Rianta to deal with its lenders. It would be appropriate neither for the Department or me to get involved in trying to do that on behalf of a State company.

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

Séamus Brennan: I am assured it is not a difficulty. I made that clear yesterday and I do so again today. I know Senators are trying to be helpful as are many media commentators. However, it is not helpful to continue to suggest, nationally, that there is any scintilla of doubt over the ability of a major State company with substantial lenders, such as Aer Rianta, to repay and live up to its commitments. Aer...

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

Séamus Brennan: That can surely happen to any company in the country.

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

Séamus Brennan: There is no risk of any sort to the taxpayer. The Aer Rianta organisation is solvent. It has enormous assets which cover its loans many times over. It is probably one of the most secure companies here to which a creditor could lend money. I do not know of any bank which would not queue up to lend funds to a State company of this sort. The taxpayer has no concerns about this matter.

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

Séamus Brennan: I have nothing further to add to what I have already said.

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

Séamus Brennan: Amendment No. 18 seeks to delete references to arrangements for the delegation of functions at section 8(1). I consider it important that the Cork and Shannon authorities have the option of agreeing such a delegation of functions between them. It would not be right to delete such references. Amendment No. 19 would provide that the entering into arrangements by Dublin Airport with Cork and...

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

Séamus Brennan: The legislation is of necessity finely balanced in this regard. Section 8 states that the Dublin Airport authority "shall" pending the Cork appointed day enter into such arrangements with Cork Airport for the performance of functions on its behalf regarding Cork Airport as may be agreed between the parties. The clause for Shannon is exactly the same. The language used is clear. The Dublin...

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

Séamus Brennan: Again, the Bill is clear in that regard. That cannot happen until at least 30 April 2005. Staff cannot legally transfer until then.

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

Séamus Brennan: There is a difference between the legal and operational situations.

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

Séamus Brennan: The boards will be put in place and will be required to prepare business plans and to make an agreement with Dublin Airport as to what functions they can carry out on its behalf. I hope they can reach sensible arrangements in terms of what Cork and Shannon Airports can do while under the umbrella of Dublin Airport. Such arrangements must be of a day-to-day nature. I do not envisage any...

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

Séamus Brennan: This matter is dealt with in the legislation and is not necessarily an issue to be dealt with by me. I hope they will try to create new business. As I outlined already, staff cannot be transferred. They can continue to work in the airports but cannot legally be transferred until April 2005. They should first take urgent and vigorous steps to create new business. I am certain the three boards...

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

Séamus Brennan: Amendment No. 24 would amend section 8(12), where Cork and Shannon are performing functions on behalf of Dublin before their respective appointed days under section 8(1). The performance by these authorities of such functions, to include provisions of services and facilities related to such functions, will already be subject to the terms of an agreement in place between Dublin Airport...

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

Séamus Brennan: Section 8(13) provides that an airport authority can, with the approval of the Minister and after consulting the Minister for Finance, establish a new airport, become part owner of an airport and manage or operate an existing airport. Under subsection (10), an airport authority is given the power to manage, operate and develop any other airport established or owned by it under subsection...

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

Séamus Brennan: There is no new intention in the Bill other than to carry through what was in the 1998 legislation, which allowed Aer Rianta to invest in other airports and to get involved in their management. We are carrying that through to the new authorities, which is what is before us here. I have no plans to bring the regional airports into State ownership. In regard to Dusseldorf and so on, I explained...

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

Séamus Brennan: I do, but I will make no comment. Have I responded to the points raised about amendments Nos. 24 and 25?