Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I was not but perhaps the Cathaoirleach was.

Cork Airport commenced operations on 16 October 1961 and served the important tourism and business interests in the southern region. It is also ideally located to service offshore gas and oil exploration work off the south coast. The period since the 1970s has seen significant capital development at each of the three airports. Major developments included the construction of new passenger terminal buildings and piers, expansion of existing passenger facilities, development of a new 8,600 ft. runway at Dublin Airport and the provision of extensive car parking and cargo handling facilities at each of the three airports. Commercial development of non-operational land forms part of the overall company strategy for the airports.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Aer Rianta broadened its commercial activities with developments in the retailing, catering and hotel industries, as Senator Browne outlined in detail earlier. In May 1998, Aerofirst, a joint venture company set up by Aer Rianta and the Soviet airline, Aeroflot, opened new duty free shopping facilities at Moscow Airport. To support this overseas business, Aer Rianta set up a subsidiary company, Aer Rianta International, which continues to oversee the development of many commercial ventures both in Russia and in countries in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.

Aer Rianta's success abroad was mirrored by expansion at home. The company acquired a first class chain of hotels when the Great Southern Hotel Group, of which Senator Coghlan is a great supporter, joined the Aer Rianta group in 1990. Another historic development occurred in 1996 when Aer Rianta acquired part ownership of an airport property abroad. In that year, Aer Rianta with its partner, Nat West Ventures limited, acquired a 40% stake in Birmingham International Airport. In late 1997, another important acquisition was finalised when Aer Rianta and its German partner acquired 50% ownership of Dusseldorf Airport.

Today this House discusses the next stage in the progression of Aer Rianta and I welcome the detailed speech by the Minister for Transport. My constituency does not have an airport but, as a consequence of the good work of the Minister, it will soon have a motorway from Clonee to the Virginia side of Kells. I compliment the Minister on the work he has put into this proposed construction since he came into office. I observe that two of Senator Coghlan's colleagues in the Dáil who are both from County Meath — one the youngest Deputy in that House, the other a former Taoiseach — are actively supporting cranks in objecting to that project. It is a project that will ensure that the people——