Results 4,621-4,640 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

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

Séamus Brennan: I am in enough trouble without going down that road.

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

Séamus Brennan: Amendment No. 8 seeks to delay the renaming of Aer Rianta until after the Cork and Shannon appointed day. This issue has been brought to my attention by Senator Dooley among others. I am sympathetic to this matter. However, it would be confusing if I were to allow the delay. It is better that we start as we mean to go on. The notion that Cork and Shannon authorities will be subservient to a...

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

Séamus Brennan: Níl muid críochnaithe fós leis an aistriúchán, ach nuair a bheidh muid in ann an t-aistriúchán a chríochnú, déanfaidh muid é sin. Senator Dooley has spoken to me many times about representation on the Dublin board from Shannon and Cork. He has pressed the case very hard with me and I understand why he feels so strongly about it. I can try to meet his requirement as best I can by...

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

Séamus Brennan: It is not a south side Dublin bias.

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

Séamus Brennan: I agree with Senator Browne's analysis. The purpose of the proposed subsection (3) is to statutorily underpin two companies as permanent State companies. However, Government needs flexibility in dealing with such issues and I do not consider it wise to put it into legislation. It is preferable to retain the flexibility that currently exists. Important business issues surround both of these...

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

Séamus Brennan: Amendment No. 12 relates to section 7(1), which provides that the transfer of assets can be effected by the Minister, as well as the Dublin Airport authority. It would remove an added element of the flexibility to effect what will be a complex restructuring process. Amendment No. 13, which relates to sections 7(2) and 7(3), proposes to remove the power of the Minister, with the consent of the...

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

Séamus Brennan: I have no wish to micro-manage this or any other issue. I assure the Senator that the sooner I can get it done and dusted the better, so the boards can get on with their jobs. The amendment before the House proposes to remove the Minister's power to give a direction "in anticipation of" the restructuring. Section 7(6) is important because it adds some flexibility to a complex restructuring...

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

Séamus Brennan: That is not the intention. If the Houses approve legislation that provides for a restructuring process that establishes independent State airports, that is the will of the Dáil and Seanad. It will receive the presidential signature and it will become an Act. It is important, to ensure that the Act is seen through and not frustrated, that the Minister of the day, whoever that might be, is...

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

Séamus Brennan: The answer to the Senator's question is probably "Yes". The Minister could give such a direction if a board were to fail to do that. Section 8 states that restructuring will take place and the Dublin Airport authority will enter into discussions with the other airports about delegated powers and matters of that type. Senator McDowell's question is fair. If the Dublin Airport authority should...

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: 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...

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

Séamus Brennan: The 1998 Act brought in rates for Aer Rianta, which has paid rates on all three State airports since that time. There is nothing in the Bill that changes that in any way. The question of rates on State properties is something in which the Minister for Finance takes a keen interest. It is a Government issue. It is a matter of rates policies generally and covers much more than just airports....

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...