Seanad debates

Wednesday, 21 January 2004

2:30 pm

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

Some time ago the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, stated that he was extremely concerned about criminal activity funding a political party. He was referring specifically to Sinn Féin and was basing his concern on Garda intelligence. There is much concern about Sinn Féin and the political network it has built up. Many people appear to be working on a voluntary basis in consistency offices. If there is credibility to what the Minister has said, it behoves him to call in the Criminal Assets Bureau to identify whether there is a link and to do something about it.

I would like the Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, to come to the House to explain what is happening in regard to Aer Rianta. He had ambitious plans and he is almost like the sultan of spin as far as the newspapers are concerned in regard to the breaking up of Aer Rianta. I do not know the level of consultations the Minister had with the trade unions preceding the proposal to break up Aer Rianta. The threat to Aer Rianta, Dublin Airport and the other airports is like the sword of Damocles hanging over the issue of their closure. I am extremely concerned about the image it projects of this country at a sensitive time when we are hosting the EU Presidency and when the ten accession states are to join. I would like harmonious discussions to take place and the Minister to come to this House to explain what is happening in regard to the dismantling of Aer Rianta as we know it.

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