Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The 1998 Act brought in rates for Aer Rianta, which has paid rates on all three State airports since that time. There is nothing in the Bill that changes that in any way. The question of rates on State properties is something in which the Minister for Finance takes a keen interest. It is a Government issue. It is a matter of rates policies generally and covers much more than just airports. This provision has been in place since 1998 so unless there is a change in that policy, the individual authorities will presumably be required to pay rates to their local authorities, as they have done since 1998.