Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister and his executives who have put a huge effort into delivering this Bill. My opinion of this Bill is different to most of those expressed today. I see this as a simple Bill which will bring about a dramatic change in Aer Rianta as we know it. After the legislation is passed Aer Rianta will be divided and Dublin Airport will become the Dublin Airport authority and Cork and Shannon Airports will become the Cork and Shannon Airport authorities.

On the appointed day, 30 April 2005, or thereafter, Cork and Shannon Airport authorities will legally take over their assets after the production of the business plans by the new authorities.

The right people to draw up the business plans are the chairmen and the boards of the new airport authorities. Contrary to what has been said earlier, I know more about Aer Rianta than most Members as my company, Lir Chocolates, has dealt with it for 26 years. I have spent years in Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports and the outstanding people in Aer Rianta have become my steadfast and loyal friends. Those activists and leaders in the Aer Rianta unions went down that route for their own personal development when they could have easily gone down the route to senior management. All union representatives and senior management are of equal ability and should be held in equal respect.

I do not agree with Senator Quinn's remarks about competition between the three airports. In 1937, Aer Rianta was established by the then Ministers for Industry and Commerce and Finance, Seán Lemass and Seán McEntee. Aer Rianta evolved with the further establishment of Shannon Airport and finally Cork Airport in 1961. As a business person myself, I agree that it is an appropriate time to look to the future. If the status quo prevailed, Aer Rianta would continue to be a successful company. However, we must look ahead with a vision for the future of Aer Rianta as no business can stay on the same course. Those men who started up Aer Rianta had a vision. They were inspired when they established the first duty free shop at Shannon Airport in 1947 and had the courage to fly transatlantic with the State airline.

I do not understand Senator O'Meara's comments on ideology when Aer Rianta will stay in State ownership. I do not want Aer Lingus to be privatised. From my experience in both sectors, I believe that the public sector, with good management and inspirational leadership, can be as entrepreneurial as the private. The idea behind dividing Aer Rianta into three parts is to grow them into successful businesses for the future where employment will be sustained. It is not about competition between the three airports. It is about their marketers ensuring airlines continue to fly to their respective airports. Ideology does not enter into my political dictionary.