Results 5,441-5,460 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Nothing has changed. I am in the same position as my predecessor. People have selectively quoted from various documents but the opening contribution to the debate on the State Airports Act 2004, provides absolute clarity. I agree with the board of Cork Airport, which wants its independence much earlier than was envisaged when the legislation was introduced. It would be good if that were...

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: My predecessor's statements accord with mine. Cork, Shannon and Dublin airports have to remain financially viable and must be turned into commercial successes. The three boards and my Department are engaged in that process, with the advice of a myriad of advisers, and will reach a conclusion once the areas of disagreement are resolved. This is not a game and serious financial issues are...

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I understand the terminal will be completed in a matter of days. Deputy Allen may be expressing a lack of confidence in the board of Cork Airport arising from its inability to meet the deadlines it gave to the Deputy and others over the past eight months.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I would have preferred that the Cork Airport terminal development had been delivered on time and within budget. While I will await the outcome of the matter, it is certainly not on time and does not appear to be within budget. That is somewhat disappointing but the reality is we have to take account of these issues.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: We can be confident that Cork effectively has a new airport, which will bring tremendous benefits to Munster and the south. The success of this fantastic new facility will be important. It will attract millions of passengers to Cork and I do not doubt the airport will attempt to dramatically expand its short-haul services and take advantage of new long-haul destinations. That is all good...

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy has raised a range of questions that were not part of the question I have answered, I do not have some of the specific answers. If the Deputy will put down a question I will get the specifics for him. Cork Airport is ready to go and we must make a decision. We cannot operate State companies outside the companies law.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Some people have put it to me that because they were State companies we could ignore proper accounting procedures and fiscal and business management.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: He did not.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: If one reads what was said in the House in 2004 from start to finish, as I have, not selectively——

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The former Minister for Transport stated there would have to be a finance lease arrangement between Cork and Dublin airports to facilitate the independence of Cork Airport.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: That was stated——

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: That was stated on the record in this House. The issue of having distributable reserves is complex. It is fine by me if we wait until all the distributable reserves are available to Dublin Airport. The board of Cork Airport does not see it that way. It does not want to wait and it is right. It wants to become independent quicker. If we want to wait for that timeframe to be completed we can...

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: There has been no indecision on my part. I have had enough meetings with Cork Airport management. I have not changed my views since the first time I met them.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I disagree with the Deputy. She knows well that I have made all the decisions and will make the decision on Cork and Dublin airports. I would prefer if people on both sides of this argument took the political baloney out of this. I choose my words carefully. It would be easier to resolve if they did, but some people chose to make a political football of this——

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: ——and this was to the detriment of good, sound, financial business decisions being made. I have met Cork Airport management on every occasion on which they have sought to meet me. I have had numerous meetings with them. I made arrangements for them to go to London recently, where they met people who are analysing their future. That was a successful meeting. They asked me to facilitate it...

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I said it will be finished in days.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am glad the Fine Gael position is clear. It wants to ladle all the debt from Cork Airport on to the passengers at Dublin Airport.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Fine Gael wants to ride every horse in every constituency around the country with no accountability for anything.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I wish Deputy Allen good luck with that. The truth of it will emerge in time.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Cork Airport wants a debt in excess of €200 million to be landed exclusively at the door of the Dublin Airport Authority. I do not know what the north Dublin Fine Gael Deputies or hopeful Deputies feel about that.