Shane Ross (Independent)

I am postponing it, that is the point, a Chathaoirligh. I notice you allowed a certain amount of latitude to Senator Mansergh, which I will not require from you today.

Where is the Minister for Transport? I see him on television opening stations down in Cork, but I never see him in the House, although one sees him in the Dáil. I would like a debate on the transport system. Will the House have an opportunity to debate the State Airports Bill 2004 before the summer recess? We have been seeking a debate on this issue for a long time and it seems that, for some reason, the Minister for Transport is ducking an appearance in the House.

It is noteworthy that Dublin Airport is a complete and utter shambles, which is not a coincidence. It is because of the shenanigans that are going on — I am not taking a partisan view on this — between the chairman of Aer Rianta, the Minister for Transport, the unions and the board. Extraordinary alliances are being formed to frustrate the apparent wishes of the Government. In the meantime, we have complete paralysis at Dublin Airport and paralysis of the aviation system. During her term as Minister for Public Enterprise, the Leader of the House was criticised for not doing anything about the airport's difficulties. In light of what has happened since she departed office, however, that criticism is totally unfair because nothing has happened whatsoever. We do not know whether we are getting pier D, a second terminal or anything else. In the meantime, Dublin Airport is a shambles. I suggest that if anyone in this House wants to punish President Bush, he or she should ask him to fly into Dublin rather than Shannon this weekend because it would expose the real difficulties we face.