Don Lydon (Fianna Fail)

People with specific agendas are targeting the Minister. However, the Minister who is a calm and tough man will win in the long run. Perhaps the many people who attacked the Minister in recent times did so with a tinge of jealousy. I am not too sure of their reasons but the Minister is well able for them.

I was glad to hear Senator Finucane state that Fine Gael is not opposed to the break-up of Aer Rianta but to the manner in which it is being achieved. Should we legislate for three separate airports and should we do it now? If we are to do it there is no point putting it off. The Shannon stop-over has been an important factor in the economy of Clare. While the stop-over did not make a great deal of sense from a logical point of view it made sense from an economic point of view. I would not like Clare to lose that facility.

We must provide people with the opportunity to manage in their own right. The three separate airports will be able to govern themselves and to make money. When former Minister Barry Desmond proposed the location of an airport at Knock many people said it would not work, but it does. At least one-third of the population of Ireland visits Knock each year, many of them by aeroplane. That may seem an astounding figure, but it is true.

I was pleased to hear the Minister outline the Government's reasons for introducing this legislation. He also clarified many issues about which I was concerned when he stated: "There has been no suggestion of any intention on the part of funders to initiate action under "event of default" type clauses of the appropriate loan agreements." It is important we note that. The Minister also said: ."...these broad financial perspectives were not, and could not be, comprehensive business plans for the three State airports since I have consistently maintained that only the three new airport authorities, which will be responsible for the development of the three airports, are in the proper position, once this Bill is enacted, to develop comprehensive business or action plans." That is not putting the cart before the horse. We must create three separate airports and then draw up the three separate business plans. Given the opportunity to work on their own and to generate business plans, the airports will do so. I know of no reason they cannot succeed.

Aer Rianta has worked well for many years and continues to do so. Senator Cox said that Dublin Airport is an appalling place. It needs a great deal of work at management level. I do not know of any other industry which treats its customers in the manner in which airlines do, not just in Ireland but abroad. Such treatment would not be tolerated from any other industry.

The barriers to which Senator Cox referred are not necessary and are not part of the security process. I was recently in an airport abroad where there were five separate checks. There were no queues because the procedure was handled efficiently and quickly and people appeared to know what they were doing.

Baldonnel was referred to as a separate airport, which I do not think is possible. Given our increased defence commitments in Europe, we need a military airport. We cannot have a commercial and military facility operating along the same lines in the same place, with different rules and regulations. To be realistic, we do not want these planes annoying us by flying over south Dublin.

Most of the arguments are not about the airports, but appear to be about the timing of the legislation and the way in which it was introduced. I see nothing wrong with the way it was introduced. The Minister has a job to do, it was a Cabinet decision, and he should run with it. Senator Finucane said something about one person speaking one way and everyone else speaking the other way, which happens from time to time. This is democracy and it is what the Seanad is about. We can tease out the rights and wrongs of the Bill tomorrow on Committee Stage, when I am sure there will be much debate.

Section 6(3)(b) reads, "or in the Irish language Údarás Aerfort na Sionna". I am not an expert on Irish, but should it be "ph" instead of "f"? Perhaps the Minister will explain it tomorrow — there is no need to do so now. All the terms associated with airlines are nautical. Aircraft land at airports, have captains, stewardesses, pursers and so on. It just is a small point. Perhaps it is modern Irish or old Irish; it may be correct. I am not a scholar, but I wonder about it.

I suggest the Minister bite the bullet and do what he has to do, because he will have the backing of Members on this side of the House. We will back him, not because he happens to be a Minister, but because we believe he is doing the right thing at the right time and in the right way. I wish him every success.