Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I find it difficult to divorce the names I mentioned from activities in the airport. I am sure people from Dublin have the same difficulty. In the past, we required information about the aviation business at international, national, and local levels on matters such as investments or runways and lights. We needed advice from the board and management of the airports and it was always forthcoming. On many occasions Oireachtas Members were brought to the airport and briefed on particular difficulties that had arisen.

There is growing anxiety in Shannon and the mid-west that changes involving three agencies are too much. Changes are proposed for the Shannon Development Company. There are also proposals for change in Aer Lingus. The Shannon Development Company, Aer Rianta and Aer Lingus provide valuable employment opportunities in Shannon, and there is growing anxiety that simultaneous changes will have a detrimental effect on opportunities for many people within the three authorities. Assurances from the Minister will be welcome. He has indicated there will be no problem regarding staff transfers within the airport authorities. That needs to be confirmed and further detail provided on Committee Stage.

There is also a fear that future Ministers will be unable to sign off business plans and financial arrangements. A situation could arise at Shannon whereby assets are transferred to the new Dublin authority, personnel changes are made by the Dublin authority, and other management activities are centred at the Dublin authority. Without sign-off on these issues, there might not be a fall-back position. The objective that Shannon should have autonomy and be responsible for its own business and affairs would be diminished. The situation would be worse than previously. This is the anxiety people have.

In legislation such as this, one cannot include a provision that in the event of everything not working to plan we revert to previous legislation. That would be admitting defeat before we start. I do not expect any Minister would include such a provision. I wholeheartedly support the proposed policies. However, we need the Minister's assurance that should these policies come unstuck a situation will not arise whereby Dublin has dominance over Shannon and Cork, creating a worse situation in the long term.

It is important that Shannon is not downgraded. In the section of the Bill dealing with the borrowing powers of the new authorities, €700 million is mentioned with regard to Dublin, €100 million with regard to Cork, and €20 million with regard to Shannon. This gives rise to the view expressed by employees that Shannon is seen as the poor relation of Dublin and Cork. There are high expectations for the new authority in Shannon and the opportunities that will follow. We do not want to see a situation where those opportunities are constrained by a lack of borrowing ability or by being third in line after Dublin and Cork. That view will create a lack of confidence in the proposed legislation. Perhaps the Minister could provide assurance that in the event of new developments requiring an additional borrowing capacity above €20 million he would be willing to deal with that through future legislation. Such an assurance would be sufficient to allay any fears. I acknowledge it is not advisable to create a situation where authorities are authorised to borrow huge amounts of money regardless of how it is to be spent.

These are some of the matters causing concern and they lead to anxiety for the people of Shannon. We do not consider ourselves of lesser importance. However, because of a lesser borrowing capacity we might be viewed as being less important in aviation in the future. Shannon has a good record. Under the proposed policy and new boards of management, I envisage a thriving Shannon Airport, opening up new opportunities, developing jobs for people, and working competitively and in co-operation with Dublin and Cork Airports to provide the best aviation service, enhance business and tourism and cater for people who wish to avail of airport services.

A number of personnel transferred from the old Department of Transport and were at that time given a ministerial guarantee that their pension would not deteriorate. As a result of this legislation some of these people will experience a decrease. This matter needs to be rectified. In some cases a pension could decrease by approximately €5,000 to €10,000 per year. This also affects some of the widows of those people who never retired from the Department but came under the new arrangements. This legislation was delayed for 30 years and I hope nobody will make amendments to this legislation in 30 years time. We must get this right. Many people have given dedicated loyal service over the years; some were involved in the management of Cork and Shannon Airports in 1969 before the company was established. We must ensure that their efforts and achievements are not diminished by curtailments to their pension entitlements. Everyone in this House has his or her own idea about the legislation. However, I support the principle of giving autonomy to the regions and airports. I support the broad thrust of the legislation and hope that during the debate on the subsequent Stages the Minister will give commitments that will allay people's fears regarding their future prospects in the aviation business.